Addressing the Peak Power Problem Through Thermal Energy Storage

In the United States, the electrical power grid is divided into three primary regions: the Western Interconnection, the Eastern Interconnection, and the Texas Interconnection. Each of these regions struggles with peak power issues, but this case study will focus on the Texas Interconnection, which is operated by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).This chapter discusses the opportunity to shift one of the largest electricity loads (air-conditioning) from the expensive aftrenoon peak to the cheaper nighttime hours using Thermal Energy Storage (TES), which is used for storing “cooling” in the form of chilled wate, and outlines a model for finding an optimal design for it.