Real energy storage

What is energy storage?

Energy storage is a technology that holds energy at one time so it can be used at another time. Building more energy storage allows renewable energy sources like wind and solar to power more of our electric grid.

What is thermal energy storage?

Thermal energy storage (TES) can help to integrate high shares of renewable energy in power generation, industry, and buildings sectors. TES technologies include molten-salt storage and solid-state and liquid air variants.

How does energy storage work?

Water is pumped uphill using electrical energy into a reservoir when energy demand is low. Later, the water is allowed to flow back downhill, turning a turbine that generates electricity when demand is high. What you should know about energy storage.

How can energy be stored?

Energy can also be stored by making fuels such as hydrogen, which can be burned when energy is most needed. Pumped hydroelectricity, the most common form of large-scale energy storage, uses excess energy to pump water uphill, then releases the water later to turn a turbine and make electricity.

Why do we need energy storage?

As the cost of solar and wind power has in many places dropped below fossil fuels, the need for cheap and abundant energy storage has become a key challenge for building an energy system that does not emit greenhouse gases or contribute to climate change.

Why is energy storage important in a decarbonized energy system?

In deeply decarbonized energy systems utilizing high penetrations of variable renewable energy (VRE), energy storage is needed to keep the lights on and the electricity flowing when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing — when generation from these VRE resources is low or demand is high.