Energy storage involves converting energy from forms that are difficult to store to more conveniently or economically storable forms. Some technologies provide short-term energy storage, while others can endure for much longer. Bulk energy storage is currently dominated by hydroelectric dams, both conventional as well as pumped.
Energy storage is a valuable tool for balancing the grid and integrating more renewable energy. When energy demand is low and production of renewables is high, the excess energy can be stored for later use. When demand for energy or power is high and supply is low, the stored energy can be discharged.
Energy can also be stored by making fuels such as hydrogen, which can be burned when energy is most needed. Pumped hydroelectricity, the most common form of large-scale energy storage, uses excess energy to pump water uphill, then releases the water later to turn a turbine and make electricity.
Pumped hydroelectricity, the most common form of large-scale energy storage, uses excess energy to pump water uphill, then releases the water later to turn a turbine and make electricity. Compressed air energy storage works similarly, but by pressurizing air instead of water.
The idea of an energy store is to allow calculations to be made and to state how many joules are available for an action to happen. Each of the stores has an equation associated with it. Learn about and revise energy stores, transfers, conservation, dissipation and how to calculate energy changes with GCSE Bitesize Physics.
Energy comes in multiple forms including radiation, chemical, gravitational potential, electrical potential, electricity, elevated temperature, latent heat and kinetic. Energy storage involves converting energy from forms that are difficult to store to more conveniently or economically storable forms.