Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Define energy storage and explain its significance in modern energy systems​
• Describe the various benefits of energy storage technologies, including grid stabilisation and renewable energy integration​
• Identify and explain different types of energy storage technologies and how they work​
• Understand the specific applications and advantages of battery energy storage, pumped hydro storage, compressed air energy storage, thermal energy storage and flywheel energy storage.

Tutorial Duration: 20 minutes approximately

Lesson Notes 

Introduction​

• Energy storage captures energy for use at a later time​
• Critical for balancing supply and demand in modern energy systems​
• Enables greater flexibility and resilience in energy grids​
• Supports integration of intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind​
• Helps stabilise the grid by smoothing out fluctuations.

What is Energy Storage?

• Energy storage captures energy when it is available and stores it for later use​
• Provides grid stabilisation by smoothing out fluctuations in supply and demand​
• Supports electricity peak shaving by reducing the need for peaking power plants​
• Enables greater integration of renewable energy sources​
• Enhances flexibility and resilience of the energy grid.

For image see Reference Link 1.

Benefits of Energy Storage​

Grid Stabilisation:​

• Maintains voltage and frequency.​

Peak Shaving:​

• Reduces peak demand and lowers costs.​

Renewable Integration:​

• Stores excess renewable energy.​

System Performance:​

• Improves efficiency and provides backup power.​

Environmental Benefits:​

• Reduces fossil fuel use and emissions.​

Examples:​

• Battery storage for solar energy​
• Pumped hydro for wind energy.

Types of Energy Storage​

Battery Energy Storage:​

• Uses lithium-ion, lead-acid and flow batteries.​

Pumped Hydro Storage:​

• Pumps water to higher elevation, releases for power.​

Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES):​

• Compresses air, releases to drive turbines.​

Thermal Energy Storage:​

• Stores energy as heat (sensible, latent, thermochemical).​

Flywheel Energy Storage:​

• Stores kinetic energy, releases quickly.

Battery Energy Storage​

Efficient and versatile energy storage.​

Battery Chemistries:​

• Lithium-ion: High energy density, long cycle life​
• Lead-acid: Cost-effective, reliable for backup power​
• Flow batteries: Long-duration storage, scalable for large projects​
• Other battery chemistries.​

Applications:​

• Grid stabilisation and frequency regulation​
• Peak shaving​
• Backup power during outages​
• Powering electric vehicles.

For image see Reference Link 2.

Pumped Hydro Storage

Established and widely used energy storage technology.​

How It Works:​

• Pumps water to a higher elevation during low demand​
• Releases water to generate electricity during high demand.​

Suitability:​

• Ideal for large-scale and long-duration energy storage​
• Balances grid load and supports renewable energy integration.​

Applications:​

• Provides grid stability and peak shaving​
• Supports integration of intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar.

For images see Reference Link 3.

Compressed Air Energy Storage​

Uses compressed air to store energy.​

How It Works:​

• Air is compressed and stored in underground caverns or large tanks.​
• During high demand, compressed air is released and heated to drive a turbine, generating electricity.​

Suitability:​

• Effective for grid-scale energy storage.​
• Long-duration storage capacity.​

Applications:​

• Balances intermittent renewable energy sources​
• Provides grid stability and peak shaving.

For images see Reference Link 4.

Thermal Energy Storage​

Stores energy in the form of heat.​

Types:​

• Sensible Heat Storage: Uses materials like water or molten salts​
• Latent Heat Storage: Utilises phase change materials​
• Thermochemical Storage: Involves reversible chemical reactions.​

Suitability:​

• Ideal for heating, cooling, and industrial processes.​

Applications:​

• Building heating and cooling​
• Industrial process heat​
• Innovative heat batteries.

For images see Reference Link 5.

Flywheel Energy Storage​

Stores energy as kinetic energy in a rotating mass.​

How It Works:​

• A rotor spins at high speeds to store energy​
• Energy is released by slowing down the rotor, converting kinetic energy back to electrical energy.​

Suitability:​

• Ideal for short-duration energy storage​
• Provides rapid response and high power output.​

Applications:​

• Grid stability and frequency regulation​
• Short-duration backup power​
• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

For images see Reference Link 6.

Conclusion

• Energy storage is critical for grid stability, renewable integration, and efficient energy management
• Various storage technologies include batteries, pumped hydro, compressed air, thermal, and flywheels, each with unique benefits and applications
• Effective use of energy storage enhances reliability, reduces costs, and supports sustainability goals.

Next Steps: 

• Explore advancements in storage technologies to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness​
• Investigate policy frameworks and incentives to promote energy storage adoption​
• Consider implementing energy storage solutions in your projects to enhance resilience and support renewable energy integration.

Reference Links 

1. https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=22831
2. https://www.tennet.eu/battery-energy-storage-systems-bess
3. https://arena.gov.au/blog/what-is-pumped-hydro-and-how-does-it-work/
4. https://phys.org/news/2010-03-compressed-air-energy-storage-renewable.html
5. https://www.ites.kit.edu/english/732.php
6. https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8797/3/2/20