Energy storage is key

Why do we need battery energy storage systems?

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have become a solution to prevent surpluses from being lost and to cover the intermittence of renewable energy. “We need energy storage solutions to make them permanent,” says researcher and electric battery expert Philippe Knauth in an interview for bbva.com.

Do we need energy storage solutions?

“We need energy storage solutions to make them permanent,” says researcher and electric battery expert Philippe Knauth in an interview for bbva.com. He also points out that the democratization of energy depends on “the combination of renewable energies and energy storage.”

Why is energy storage important?

A crucial factor motivating these safety improvements — and the broader focus on developing energy storage solutions more generally — has been the realization that energy storage is a necessary component in scaling up clean energy solutions to power society.

What are some examples of energy storage solutions?

Energy storage solutions for electricity generation include pumped-hydro storage, batteries, flywheels, compressed-air energy storage, hydrogen storage and thermal energy storage components. Energy storage is the capturing and holding of energy in reserve for later use.

Are energy storage systems safe?

Yet energy storage systems have their hurdles. “They do not last long enough. Some materials, like cobalt, are toxic; others are scarce. Most must be mined, which adds to carbon emissions,” he says. Today, lithium batteries are the most common. Their key strength is their high energy density, both by weight and by volume.

How can a battery energy storage system maximise the use of solar energy?

To maximise the use of the solar energy that is available some hours of the day, the electricity production from the panels must exceed the needs in that period, so that excess can be stored and utilised later, until the sun shines again. This is possible with battery energy storage systems (BESS).