Viability and value of behind-the-meter battery storage

Behind-the-meter (BTM) battery storage is a distributed, flexible technology that can support the integration of renewable generation in low-carbon power systems. This research addresses three main challenges related to the integration of BTM battery storage systems: their financial viability from the local perspective, identifying a suitable approach to account for BTM battery storage systems as autonomous decision makers in the power system and quantifying the value of BTM battery storage within low-carbon power systems. The viability of BTM battery storage was investigated from the local perspective, stacking up to three revenue streams simultaneously and accounting for battery degradation. The results indicate that single applications of BTM battery storage are unlikely to be an attractive investment but stacking more than one revenue stream improves investment viability and battery lifetime. Two approaches were compared for their suitability to account for BTM battery storage as autonomous decision makers in the power system. Additionally, the impact of retail contracts on the value of BTM battery storage to the power system was investigated. The result identifies and justifies the most suitable approach and provides insights into which retail contracts are the most beneficial from the power system perspective. The interactions between the power system and autonomous BTM batteries were studied in detail, to assess the value of BTM battery storage from the power system perspective. The results reveal BTM battery storage can have a positive or negative impact on the power system. Therefore, contract design and market structures are crucial to ensure the adoption of this technology benefits the power system.