The battery storage model is available with the following performance models:
- Detailed PV-Battery integrates battery storage with the Detailed Photovoltaic model.
- Generic System-Battery integrated battery storage with the Generic System model.
SAM can model behind-the-meter and front-of-meter storage applications, determined by the financial model:
- The distributed financial models (Residential, Commercial, and Third Party Ownership) are for behind-the-meter storage, where power from the system is used to reduce a residential or commercial customer's electricity bill.
- The PPA and Merchant Plant financial models are for front-of-meter storage, where power from the system is sold to generate revenue.
SAM does not have a standalone battery model, but you can model such a system using the Generic Battery configuration with a plant loss of 100%.
The battery storage model allows you to analyze the performance of the following types of batteries:
- Lead-acid
- Lithium-ion
- Vanadium redox flow
- All iron flow
SAM has automatic dispatch controller options for peak shaving applications or applications that respond to time-varying power prices. It also has "manual" dispatch options where you provide a schedule or time-series instructions for when to charge and discharge the battery. SAM's detailed voltage, temperature, and degradation models account for how operating conditions affect battery degradation over time to determine when battery replacements are required.