greendiary.com

Energy storage solutions that will make renewables viable alternative to fossil fuels

For years, researchers are working hard for our bright green future powered by clean sources of renewable energy.  There are plenty of ways such as photovoltaic panels, rain harvesting systems and energy storage banks to conserve the energy. Moreover, there are also many energy-efficient solutions that utilize very less energy as compared to the amount of power they produce. Thus, provides a very convenient way to restore excessive energy without any carbon footprint.  Well, energy storage systems offer a wide array of technological approaches for managing power supply. This way more resilient energy infrastructure can be created while saving extra costs to utilities. But instead of fossil fuels the following alternatives can be used for energy storage solutions.

Lithium-Ion Battery Storage

Lithium-ion batteries were introduced more than two decades ago to for power conservation. These batteries can be used to gather larger-format batteries in farms to draw energy from the grid. This is done when supply outpaces demand and further can be dispatched back to the system when it is needed most.  Using a solar energy storage unit with a lithium-ion battery provides you sufficient energy to fulfill the energy needs for everyday life. The lithium-ion batteries have both mechanical and thermal characteristics for better power generation. These batteries can fuel your household appliances anytime with a full 5KW.

Flywheel Energy Storage

Flywheels are discs or cylinders that can spin on an axis within a frictionless enclosure and store power the form of kinetic energy. It is a mechanical battery that doesn’t create electricity, but simply converts and stores the energy as kinetic energy until it is needed. Flywheel energy storage (FES) works by accelerating a rotor (flywheel) to a very high speed and maintaining the energy in the system as rotational energy. When demand for power rises, the energy is released to the grid by slowing down the spinning movements. The advantages of flywheel storage are that these systems can be used lifelong and maintenance cost is very minimal.

Pumped-Storage Hydroelectricity

Pumped-Storage Hydroelectricity

Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH or PHES) is a type of hydroelectric energy storage that stores energy in form of water or in reservoir, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is the oldest and most common form of bulk-energy storage. Energy from the grid is used to move water to an upper reservoir, only during the periods of low demand. But when demand rises, the water flows down to a lower reservoir through turbines that generate power like a common hydropower station. These plants are suitable for hilly or mountainous regions, and potentially in areas of natural resources. But the major issues faced by these plants are social and ecological issues to overcome. As sometimes locals may object to construct a hydroelectric plant in their area.

 Compressed-Air Energy Storage

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a great way to store energy that’s generated by using nothing but compressed air. In compressed air storage system air heats up strongly when compressed from atmospheric pressure of about 1,015 psia (approx. 70 bar). Due to this excessive heat, energy is generated to fulfill all your energy requirements. Air storage in these plants can be adiabatic, diabatic or isothermal. As soon as the demand peaks and the wind flags, the pressurized air is further released to provide electricity to turbines or generators. CEAS power plants are realistic alternatives to pumped-hydro power plants and fossil fuels.

Summary

Such forward-thinking utilities like advanced rail energy, flywheel discs, lithium ion batteries etc. are the great energy storage solutions. These systems are aimed at enabling the grid of the better and greener future.

Today's Top Articles:

Scroll to Top