Abstract
Peak demand periods (typically 4pm-9pm in the summer months) represent not only times when California’s grid is under the most stress. They also represent times when electricity is most expensive for customers. Battery storage systems are versatile distributed energy resources (DERs) which can support customers and the grid in many ways. The objective of this project is to size a battery storage system and model the system with the application of permanent load shifting. I plan to use NREL’s System Advisor Model (SAM) tool to propose an effective battery capacity that will be capable of reducing current demand during peak periods by 50% or greater. Furthermore, I plan to quantify the impact of reducing peak load in terms of both electric bill savings as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. I believe both metrics may be important and relevant for Sac State’s leadership to consider for actual implementation of battery storage on campus. The vendor/product-unbiased recommendations and results of this report can be used in conversations with local battery vendors.