Demand Response Management in Smart Grids Through Cellular Battery Storage

The strategic deployment of energy storage by cellular operators offers a robust solution to improve the resilience and efficiency of smart grids. Traditionally used to ensure uninterrupted operation of cellular Base Stations (BSs) during power grid outages, these storages can now actively participate in the energy flexibility market. In this study, we examine the potential of BS storages to support smart grid ancillary services by allocating a portion of their capacity to balance demand in the smart grid while ensuring that enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) user requirements, such as data rate, are met. This involves utilizing BS stored energy to feed back into the smart grid during peak demand periods or to balance demand within the smart grid. We analyze the impact of eMBB user communication requirements on smart grid Demand Response Management (DRM), formulating a novel joint cellular communication resource allocation and smart grid energy allocation problem. This problem aims to maximize the participation of BSs in DRM, taking into account battery aging and cycling constraints. Simulation results demonstrate significant improvements in DRM and cost-effectiveness for cellular network operators. For example, if a cellular network with 1,200 BSs reduces its users' data rate requirements from 6 Mbps to 1 Mbps, it can increase DRM participation from 30% to 45%. For a power vacancy of approximately -30 MW, this translates to an increase in power vacancy compensation from 9 MW to around 13.5 MW, exceeding the capacity of a regular wind turbine.