Energy storage
Chapter 2 - Society
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Welcome to the energy storage page
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The worldwide demand for energy storage continues to escalate, driven by the pressing need to decarbonise economies through renewable integration on the grid.
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Core ideas
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Energy storage technologies are critical for balancing energy supply and demand, particularly as renewable energy sources like wind and solar become more prevalent. The technologies vary in efficiency, scalability, duration, and cost-effectiveness, making them suitable for different applications—from short-term grid balancing to long-term seasonal storage solutions.
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Deep dive
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Electrochemical Energy Storage
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Lithium-Ion Batteries
- Dominant in the market due to high energy density, efficiency, and versatility
- Used in electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale storage
- Variants include lithium iron phosphate (LFP), nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA), and nickel manganese cobalt (NMC)
Flow Batteries
- Utilize liquid electrolytes for energy storage, offering scalability and long lifespans without degradation over decades
- Popular for stationary applications like grid-scale storage
Emerging Batteries
- Iron-Air Batteries**: Provide long-duration storage (up to 100 hours)
- Zinc-Based Batteries**: Offer mid-duration storage (3–12 hours)
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Mechanical Energy Storage
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Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS)
- Stores energy by pumping water to an elevated reservoir during low demand and releasing it to generate electricity during peak demand
- Highly efficient (70–85%) but geographically constrained
Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)
- Compresses air for underground storage and releases it to drive turbines when needed. Suitable for large-scale applications
Gravity-Based Systems
- Store energy by lifting heavy masses and recover it when the masses descend, driving turbines. Examples include Energy Vault's concrete-block systems
Flywheels
- Store kinetic energy in rotating masses, offering fast response times but limited capacity
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Chemical Energy Storage
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Green Hydrogen
- Produced via electrolysis using renewable energy, stored as hydrogen gas, and converted back to electricity through fuel cells when needed
- Suitable for long-term and seasonal storage
Power-to-Gas Systems
- Convert excess electricity into gas (hydrogen or methane) for storage in existing infrastructure
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Thermal Energy Storage
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Superheated Bricks & Molten Salt Systems
- Capture heat during excess power generation and release it later for electricity production or heating applications
Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES)
- Liquifies air for storage and expands it to drive turbines when electricity is needed
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Electrical Energy Storage
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Supercapacitors
- Provide rapid discharge with high power density but have limited energy capacity due to high self-discharge rates
Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES)
- Store energy in magnetic fields created by superconducting coils, offering high efficiency but requiring cryogenic cooling
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| Future energy storage: technologies, managementsystems, and pathways for sustainable integration - Paul Afreh - Academia Freen Energy - 2025 |
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| This study evaluated key technologies such as battery (BESS), mechanical (MESS), and thermal (TES) storage systems via the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), net present value (NPV), and levelized cost of storage (LCOS) through a structured analysis of the peer-reviewed literature, market data, and case studies. The results show that lithium-ion batteries dominate short-term storage at a CAGR of 43% (2011–2025), driven by cost reduction and high efficiency, whereas pumped hydro remains important for long-term demand despite geographical limitations. Flow batteries and heat storage demonstrate the growth potential of grid resilience and industrial decarbonization. |
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Do you want to know more?
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| Wikipedia |
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| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_storage |
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| Energy storage news |
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| https://www.energy-storage.news/ |
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