Thermal (in the form of water tanks) and battery energy storage are the most used technologies for this application. This is an especially valuable application in areas with utility rate structures that are disadvantageous to distributed solar, or for microgrid energy storage systems that have limited grid connectivity.
Apart from the electric grid, their energy storage application covers sectors such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), marine and submarine missions, aerospace operation, portable electronic systems and wireless network systems. Batteries come in different varieties depending on their application.
For energy storage technologies to be used more widely by commercial and residential consumers, research should focus on making them more scalable and affordable. Energy storage is a crucial component of the global energy system, necessary for maintaining energy security and enabling a steadfast supply of energy.
Several energy storage systems, such as flywheels, SMES (Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage), and batteries (including flow batteries), have characteristics that make them suitable for both regulation and power quality applications.
Applications can range from ancillary services to grid operators to reducing costs “behind-the-meter” to end users. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have seen the widest variety of uses, while others such as pumped hydropower, flywheels and thermal storage are used in specific applications.
Energy storage technologies have the potential to reduce energy waste, ensure reliable energy access, and build a more balanced energy system. Over the last few decades, advancements in efficiency, cost, and capacity have made electrical and mechanical energy storage devices more affordable and accessible.