Applied Energy

Energy Storage

Energy storage systems are essential to the operation of power systems. They ensure continuity of energy supply and improve the reliability of the system. Energy storage systems can be in many forms and sizes. The size, cost, and scalability of an energy storage system highly depend on the form of the stored energy. Energy can be stored as potential, kinetic, chemical, electromagnetic, thermal, etc. Some energy storage forms are better suited for small-scale systems and some are used only for large-scale storage systems. For example, chemical batteries are well suited for small systems ranging from watches and computers to building backup systems but are still expensive when megawatt scales are considered. Pumped hydropower storage, on the other hand, which stores huge amounts of energy in the form of potential energy of water, can be found only in large power systems.