Amisha Yadav @CCMS Bureau
Today, storage is a crucial component of the energy industry. Many storage methods have been developed in the modern era so that the grid can provide all of the energy needed for daily life. Since electricity was first created, we have sought effective methods of storing it for later use. Over the past century, the energy storage industry has evolved, adapted, and innovated as energy needs have changed and technology has advanced.
‘Energy storage’ in the coming years is going to be a fundamental component of the energy sector. It lessens the need to feed extra electricity back into the grid by allowing consumers to consume a higher percentage of self-generated renewable energy. It also helps to balance out the variability in generation.
The main idea is to store energy generated when the capacity of renewable generation is high so that we can use it later, when needed, that is when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing, or when demand is high or the generation from these RE resources is low, energy storage is required to keep the lights on and the electricity flowing.
A relatively new field of technology, large scale renewable energy storage has evolved quickly in response to the increasing demand for energy worldwide from sources that lower the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy’s main disadvantages are its reliance on the weather and its inability to store and transmit power when needed.
A good storage increases the grid stability. This can make the grid more effective by improving the capacity factor of the available resources and reducing the reliance on polluting peak power plants. An improved and more dependable supply of power is possible thanks to storage, which can also help base load facilities like coal that have long ramp up times when responding to the grid produce electricity efficiently. Energy storage alternatives can significantly reduce the grid infrastructure’s overall operating expenses. It helps in overall financial savings The introduction of storage reduces costs to society by allowing low cost energy to be stored and retrieved at a later time when electricity rates are low, which benefits all end users.
Best methods for storing solar energy
Solar energy storage doesn’t have a magic bullet. Solar energy storage options depend on needs and the re- sources. In order to build a more resilient energy infrastructure and save money for utilities and consumers, energy storage systems offer a wide range of technological ways to control power supply Let’s examine several popular solar energy storage solutions for industrial, residential, and other applications.
1 lithiumion batteries
The standard for storing solar energy at home is lithium-ion batteries. They are low profile, reasonably priced (and increasingly less expensive), and suitable for a variety of needs. Lead-acid batteries and saltwater batteries are additional batteries that are frequently offered for household use.
2. Pumped hydrogen
Hydropower’s balancing and system services to the grid, which make it easier to integrate variable renewables, can play a significant part in the energy transition. The best option for large scale energy storage is pumped hydro storage. It offers all services, including synchronous or virtual inertia, frequency management, reactive power assistance, and black start capabilities. Support that was previously provided by fossil fuel powered power plants is now delivered, but with even greater responsiveness and sustainably without CO2 emissions.
3 Electrochemical energy storage All forms of secondary batteries are included in electrochemical energy storage. Through an electrochemical oxidation reduction reversal reaction, batteries turn the chemical energy included in their active components
into electric energy.
The development of sustainable energy technologies requires EES systems as a key component. Our ability to meet our energy needs in a sustainable way is greatly enhanced by the electrical energy produced from renewable resources like wind or solar energy.
4 Thermal Energy Storage
The term “thermal energy storage” refers to a group
of technologies that employ a fluid to store heat, such as water, molten salt, or another substance. The energy is then kept in an insulated tank using this thermal storage material. The energy can either be used to produce electricity or used directly for heating and cooling. The heat is utilized to boil water in thermal energy storage devices designed for electrical use.
Using the same machinery found in conventional electricity producing facilities, the generated steam powers a turbine to provide electrical power. CSP plants, which concentrate sunlight onto a receiver to heat a work- ing fluid, can benefit from thermal energy storage. As a working fluid that could benefit from greater temperatures and lower the size of producing facilities, supercritical carbon dioxide is being investigated.
5 Flywheel Storage
A hefty wheel linked to a revolving shaft is called a flywheel. The wheel can rotate more quickly by using more energy. By coupling the wheel to an electrical generator that employs electromagnetism to slow the wheel down and generate electricity, this energy can be captured. Flywheels can deliver power quickly, but they have little energy storage.
6 Compressed Air Storage
Large vessels, like tanks, or natural formations, like
caverns, are used as compressed air storage systems. The pressured air is pumped into the containers using a compressor system. The air can then be let out and used to turn an electricity-generating turbine. The released air from existing compressed air energy storage devices is frequently used to generate electricity as part of a natural gas power cycle.
7 Solar Fuels
New fuels that may be burned or consumed to
provide energy can be made using solar electricity, ef- fectively storing the solar energy in the chemical bonds. Hydrogen, created by removing oxygen from water, and methane, formed by mixing hydrogen and carbon diox- ide, are two potential fuels that researchers are looking into. Natural gas, which is frequently used to generate power or heat homes, primarily consists of methane.
8 Virtual Storage
By altering the way we utilize the gadgets we already have, energy can also be preserved. For instance, a building can “store” thermal energy so it won’t need to use power later in the day by heating or cooling the building before a predicted peak in electrical demand. By holding either warm or chilly air, the structure itself serves as a thermos. To spread out demand throughout the day, a similar procedure can be used with water heaters.
Although the sun provides an endless supply of clean energy, it can be difficult to capture. Fortunately, there are a number of options for business and household storage that provide tested answers for storing solar energy, and new technologies are being created every day. When it comes to commercial applications, mechanical storage alternatives offer efficient ways to capture solar energy at critical times, and grid scale battery storage is probably not far after. The greatest option for storing solar energy for homes is battery storage, and there are many reasonably priced options available. Together, these options offer a strong portfolio for storing solar energy and make a strong case for expanding solar deployment in industrial, institutional, and residential settings.
