Optimizing battery energy storage prototypes for improved resilience in commercial buildings: Gaussian mixture modeling and hierarchical analysis of energy storage potential

•Investigated energy storage in commercial buildings with PV systems.•Hierarchical analysis approach to identify optimal BESS capacity.•Results indicate medium offices, warehouses, and schools need BESS.•Recommends charging time windows for optimized BESS use.•Cost recovery period ranges from approximately 2.5 to 8.2 years. The increasing energy demand in commercial buildings has led to the adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems as a viable solution. However, the gap between energy consumption and PV capacity in commercial buildings remains uncertain, and there is limited research on the potential for energy storage in different commercial building types. This study utilizes Gaussian mixture modeling to extract energy consumption and PV capacity patterns from diverse commercial buildings, using datasets provided by the Department of Energy. By employing hierarchical analysis, we investigate the energy storage potential of various commercial buildings based on the disparities between energy consumption and PV capacity patterns. Moreover, this study introduces innovative battery energy storage system (BESS) prototypes tailored to the specific needs of different commercial building types. These prototypes determine the optimal BESS capacity and charging schedules, providing an effective means of improving electrical resilience in commercial buildings. The findings reveal that medium offices, warehouses, and secondary schools require BESS capacities of 410kWh, 838kWh, and 349kWh, respectively, and recommend charging time windows of 9:00–17:00, 8:00–18:00, and 9:00–14:00, respectively. Additionally, the cost recovery period for Li-ion phosphate and ternary Li-ion batteries ranges from approximately 2.5 to 7.5 years and 4 to 8.2 years, respectively. The developed BESS prototypes based on energy storage potential offer resilience to commercial buildings during power outages caused by natural disasters and emergencies, helping to improve their electrical resilience. This study provides valuable insights into the potential for energy storage in commercial buildings and promotes the wider implementation of BESS in the commercial sector, contributing to the achievement of effective demand-side management.