Multiple Criteria Analysis for Energy Storage Selection

In view of the current and predictable energy shortage and environmental concerns, the exploitation of renewable energy sources offers great potential to meet increasing energy demands and to decrease dependence on fossil fuels. However, introducing these sources will be more attractive provided they operate in conjunction with energy storage systems (ESS). Furthermore, effective energy storage management is essential to achieve a balance between power quality, efficiency, costs and environmental constraints. This paper presents a method based on the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy multi-rules and multi-sets. By exploiting a multiple criteria analysis, the proposed methods evaluate the operation of storage energy systems such as: pumped hydro and compressed air energy storage, H2, flywheel, super-capacitors and lithium-ion storage as well as NaS advanced batteries and VRB flow battery. The main objective of the study is to find the most appropriate ESS consistent with a power quality priority. Several parameters are used for the investigation: efficiency, load management, technical maturity, costs, environmental impact and power quality.