Due to the stochastic nature of wind, electric power generated by wind turbines is highly erratic and may affect both the power quality and the planning of power systems. Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) may play an important role in wind power applications by controlling wind power plant output and providing ancillary services to the power system and therefore, enabling an increased penetration of wind power in the system. This article deals with the rev. Due to the stochastic nature of wind, electric power generated by wind turbines is highly erratic and may affect both the power quality and the planning of power systems. Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) may play an important role in wind power applications by controlling wind power plant output and providing ancillary services to the power system and therefore, enabling an increased penetration of wind power in the system. This article deals with the review of several energy storage technologies for wind power applications. The main objectives of the article are the introduction of the operating principles, as well as the presentation of the main characteristics of energy storage technologies suitable for stationary applications, and the definition and discussion of potential ESS applications in wind power, according to an extensive literature review.••AbbreviationsBESS Battery Energy Storage SystemC-PCS Control and Power Conditioning SystemCAES Compressed Air Energy StorageDoD depth of dischargeFBESS Flow Battery Energy Storage SystemFESS Flywheel Energy Storage SystemHESS Hydrogen-based Energy Storage SystemLi-ion lithium-ionLVRT low voltage ride throughNaS sodium–sulphurNi–Cd nickel–cadmiumPHS pumped hydro storagePSB polysulphide–bromide flow batteryRFC regenerative fuel cellSCESS supercapacitor energy storage systemSMES superconducting magnetic energy storageVRB vanadium redox batteryZBB zinc–bromine flow batteryWind energy is one of the fastest growing sources of electricity nowadays. In fact, the cumulative wind power installation in the EU at the end of 2010 was 84,074 MW. Thus, 5.3% of European electricity consumption in 2010 came from wind turbines. The penetration of wind power in some European countries has reached values around 20%, as in the case of Denmark (24%). Electric power, generated by wind turbines, is highly erratic, and therefore the wind power penetration in power systems can lead to problems related system operation and the planning of power systems. These problems may be especially important in islanded grids.Therefore, wind generation facilities are required, in accordance with grid codes, to present special control capabilities with output power and voltage, to withstand disturbances and short circuits in the network during defined periods of time. In this way, wind farms are known as wind power plants.In this scenario, ESS play an important role in wind power applications by controlling wind power plant output and providing ancillary services to the power system and thus, enabling an increased penetration of wind power in the system.Numerous. Electrical energy can be converted to many different forms for storage :••as gravitational potential energy with water reservoirs,••as compressed air,••as electrochemical energy in batteries and flow batteries,••as chemical energy in fuel cells,••as kinetic energy in flywheels,This section details the potential applications of ESS in wind power. Each technical issue, concerning different aspects related with the management of wind power plants and their integration into the electrical network, has been identified and defined according to,,,,,,. In addition, the definition of these aspects is complemented by a brief discussion on the ESS role in each case. Finally, a review of several publications concerning the ESS applications in wind power is summarized in Table 3.Table 3. Overview of publications regarding the uses of ESS in wind power.aAlthough the storage technology is suitable for this application, dedicated studies are not listed here.
