Energy Storage

Energy storage is the capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time to reduce imbalances between energy demand and energy production. A device that stores energy is generally called an accumulator or battery. Energy comes in multiple forms including radiation, chemical, gravitational potential, electrical potential, electricity, elevated temperature, latent heat and kinetic. Energy storage involves converting energy from forms that are difficult to store to more conveniently or economically storable forms.

Some technologies provide short-term energy storage, while others can endure for much longer. Bulk energy storage is currently dominated by hydroelectric dams, both conventional as well as pumped. Grid energy storage is a collection of methods used for energy storage on a large scale within an electrical power grid.

There is no "one solution fits all" when it comes to energy storage. When a short duration of storage (<2 hours of storage capacity) is required, lithium batteries may be the right fit. If your application values heat more than electricity, a low-cost, high-density heat storage unit may provide a better economics to your facility. When a long duration of storage (>4 hours storage capacity) is needed, despite their lower efficiency, mechanical energy storage solutions (electricity to heat, and heat to electricity) may be the right fit. When it comes to utility-scale energy storage, we can provide support on pumped hydro or gravitational energy storage projects.