The modern power grid is becoming more diversified through the addition of inverter based renewable energy generation. Due to the variability of renewable generation and it supplanting conventional synchronous generation, concerns of grid stability increase as the percentage of renewable energy grows. While conventional synchronous generators traditionally provide both energy and ancillary services (inertia, voltage regulation, frequency support, etc.), non-synchronous generators typically contribute only energy. The ability of renewable energy generators, as well as energy storage systems, to overcome these challenges is seen as crucial to maintain grid stability. Photovoltaic (PV) integration may benefit from battery energy storage systems (BESS) in various ways by enhancing power system flexibility due to their enormous diversity of uses and configurations.

In 2021, the Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan) added a 109 kW PV array and a 111.5 kW/ 224 kWh BESS to its 10 MW Wind R&D Park. The work presented will demonstrate the capabilities of these additions to provide ancillary grid services such as automatic generation control (AGC), firm capacity, voltage support, and reducing the morning and evening ramps associated with PV power.