An Analysis of the Limitations of Power Smoothing Metrics and Future Perspectives for Their Evolution in the Context of BESS-Based Systems

The growing presence of power ramps, typically caused by the intermittency of renewable energy sources (RESs), may ultimately threaten the stability and reliability of the power grid. In the context of power smoothing algorithms such as Moving Average, Ramp Rate and First-Order Low-Pass Filter have been widely used in reference generation for Energy Storage Systems (ESSs). In this scenario, this paper analyzes typical metrics used for evaluating power smoothing techniques and comments on their limitations. Validation of this analysis is conducted using PV generation data sourced from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The results highlight the need to develop new metrics for a fairier comparison. Finally, this work also sets a concrete path for the evolution of said metrics.