Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power are being rapidly adopted as alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. Nevertheless, one of the biggest challenges with these clean energy technologies is that they don’t produce electricity on a constant, always-available basis. The sun is not always shining, and the wind isn’t always blowing at optimal levels for steady power generation.
To truly make renewable energy a reliable, consistent, and large-scale solution, the experts at Commonwealth say we need robust energy storage systems with rigorous protection and controls. These storage systems enable us to effectively store the surplus energy produced during peak times and discharge it later when production dips or demand spikes. Large-scale energy storage solutions with proper safeguards provide the critical link to capture and bank renewable power for use whenever needed.
The Many Forms of Energy Storage
There are a variety of different technologies that can store different forms of energy for later conversion back into electricity:
- Battery Energy Storage: Systems using large lithium-ion or other battery banks and cells to store electrical energy that can then be discharged as needed to the grid.
- Pumped Hydropower Storage: This mechanical method stores energy by using surplus electricity to pump water from a lower reservoir up to a higher reservoir. When energy is needed later, the system releases the water to spin turbines and generates hydroelectric power.
- Thermal Energy Storage: Systems like molten salt storage and ice storage capture heat or cold to be stored and then released later for heating, cooling, or running a conventional power plant turbine.
- Compressed Air Energy Storage: Surplus renewable energy is used to compress air into an underground cavern or container. When there is a need for electricity, the system releases the pressurized air to spin turbines.
The Compelling Benefits of Energy Storage
Integrating robust energy storage capabilities into renewable energy systems provides many critically important benefits:
- Improved Grid Reliability and Resilience: With storage, electricity can be consistently delivered to the grid regardless of fluctuations or disruptions in renewable production. This increases stability, reliability, and resilience.
- Meeting Peak Usage Demands: Energy banked during overnight and other off-peak periods can be smartly discharged during daytime or evening hours when energy usage peaks.
- Grid Ancillary Services: Storage allows rapid response for crucial grid services like frequency regulation by injecting or absorbing bursts of power.
- Lower Overall Electricity Costs: Deploying stored energy can often reduce the need to fire up expensive gas power plants, lowering total generation costs.
Emerging Advanced Storage Technologies
To meet the world’s rapidly growing energy storage needs, a range of new and advanced storage technologies are being developed and scaled:
- Flow Battery Storage: Large tanks of liquid electrolytes effectively store and generate electricity through a continuous electrochemical reaction as the liquids are pumped and circulated.
- Hydrogen Energy Storage: Surplus renewable power is used to split water molecules into hydrogen, which is easily stored and then later recombined to produce electricity on-demand.
- Gravity Energy Storage: Using surplus energy to mechanically hoist heavyweight blocks or train cars to elevated heights, storing significant potential energy to be released later.
- Capacitors and Supercapacitors: Ultra high-capacity capacitor banks rapidly store and discharge bursts of energy to help smooth out grid power fluctuations and variations.
As energy storage solutions continue advancing and are deployed at larger scales to complement renewable power generation, they will become the critical linchpin enabling a fully reliable and affordable transition away from fossil fuels.
Conclusion
Rigorous technical standards, protection and controls must be integrated when implementing any industrial-scale energy storage system to ensure the utmost operational safety. When properly engineered with the right safeguards, these storage technologies unlock the ability to maximize the full potential of renewable energy sources.
