O'Dwyer, CiaraCiaraO'DwyerFlynn, DamianDamianFlynn2016-10-072016-10-072014 IEEE2015-07IEEE Transactions on Power Systemshttp://hdl.handle.net/10197/8028High net load variability, driven by high penetrations of wind and solar generation, will create challenges for system operators in the future, as installed wind generation capacities increase to unprecedented levels globally. Maintaining system reliability, particularly at shorter time-scales, leads to increased levels of conventional plant starts and ramping, and higher levels of wind curtailment, with sub-hourly unit commitment and economic dispatch required to capture the increased cycling burden. The role of energy storage in reducing operating costs and enhancing system flexibility is explored, with key storage plant characteristics for balancing at this time-scale identified and discussed in relation to existing and emerging grid-scale storage technologies. Unit dispatches for the additional storage plant with varying characteristics highlight the unsuitability of energy only markets in incen-tivizing suitable levels of flexibility for future systems with high net load variability.en© © 2014 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.Battery storage plantsEnergy storagePower system simulationPumped storage power generationWind energyJournal Article3042139214810.1109/tpwrs.2014.23562322016-09-29https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ie/