It is of great significance to change the concept of the past in the development of distributed storage in future, that is, transforming traditional energy to new energy, to distributed power supply instead of centralized power supply. Energy storage will take an important part in the power system development in future.
It uses excess energy from the local grid during the day, normally supplied by solar power, to compress and liquify the gas, storing it in steel tanks. The heat generated as a by-product during the process is stored in special Thermal Energy Storage units. When there’s a need for electricity, the process is reversed.
It is employed in storing surplus thermal energy from renewable sources such as solar or geothermal, releasing it as needed for heating or power generation. Figure 20 presents energy storage technology types, their storage capacities, and their discharge times when applied to power systems.
In January 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the Implementation Plan for the Development of New Energy Storage during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, emphasizing the fundamental role of new energy storage technologies in a new power system.
Energy storage is a potential substitute for, or complement to, almost every aspect of a power system, including generation, transmission, and demand flexibility. Storage should be co-optimized with clean generation, transmission systems, and strategies to reward consumers for making their electricity use more flexible.
Storage enables electricity systems to remain in balance despite variations in wind and solar availability, allowing for cost-effective deep decarbonization while maintaining reliability. The Future of Energy Storage report is an essential analysis of this key component in decarbonizing our energy infrastructure and combating climate change.