Energy storage to replenish power when power is insufficient

Can electrical energy storage solve the supply-demand balance problem?

As fossil fuel generation is progressively replaced with intermittent and less predictable renewable energy generation to decarbonize the power system, Electrical energy storage (EES) technologies are increasingly required to address the supply-demand balance challenge over a wide range of timescales.

Why do we need energy storage systems?

As a consequence, the electrical grid sees much higher power variability than in the past, challenging its frequency and voltage regulation. Energy storage systems will be fundamental for ensuring the energy supply and the voltage power quality to customers.

Why do we need energy storage in the electrical grid?

The need for energy storage in the electrical grid has grown in recent years in response to a reduced reliance on fossil fuel baseload power, added intermittent renewable investment, and expanded adoption of distributed energy resources.

Why is energy storage oversupply a problem?

The expansion is driven mainly by local governments and lacks coordination with new energy stations and the power grid. In some regions, a considerable storage oversupply could lead to conflicts in power-dispatch strategies across timescales and jurisdictions, increasing the risk of system instability and large-scale blackouts.

How to develop a safe energy storage system?

There are three key principles for developing an energy storage system: safety is a prerequisite; cost is a crucial factor and value realisation is the ultimate goal. A safe energy storage system is the first line of defence to promote the application of energy storage especially the electrochemical energy storage.

Is excessive energy storage a problem?

Spyros Foteinis highlights the acknowledged problem that an insufficient capacity to store energy can result in generated renewable energy being wasted (Nature 632, 29; 2024). But the risks for power-system security of the converse problem — excessive energy storage — have been mostly overlooked.