Solar Energy Storage

While solar is the fastest-growing energy source in the world, key concerns around solar power’s inherent variability threaten to de-rail that scale-up . Currently, integration of intermittent solar resources into the grid creates added complication to load management, leading some utilities to reject it altogether, while other operators may penalize the producers via rate increases or force solar developers to include storage devices on-site to smooth out power delivery at the point of production. However these efforts at mitigation unfold, it is increasingly clear to parties on all sides that energy storage will be pivotally important in the drive to boost the integration of variable renewable sources into power infrastructures across the globe. Thoughtfully implemented storage technologies can reduce peak demand, improve day-to-day reliability, provide emergency power in case of interrupted generation, reduce consumer and utility costs by easing load balance challenges, decrease emissions, and increase the amount of distributed and renewable energy that makes it into the grid. While energy storage has long been an area of concern for scientists and engineers, there has been no comprehensive single text covering the storage methods available to solar power producers, which leaves a lamentable gap in the literature core to this important field. Solar Energy Storage aims to become the authoritative work on the topic, incorporating contributions from an internationally recognized group of top authors from both industry and academia, focused on providing information from underlying scientific fundamentals to practical applications, and emphasizing the latest technological developments driving this discipline forward. Expert contributing authors explain current and emergent storage technologies for solar, thermal, and photovoltaic applications. Sheds light on the economic status of solar storage facilities, including case studies of the particular challenges that solar energy systems present to remote locations. Includes information on: chemical storage mechanisms, mechanical storage tactics, pumped hydro, thermal storage, and storage strategies for systems of all sizes—from centralized utilities to distributed generation.

Extensive study of solar energy is increasing as fast as the threat of global warming is getting serious. Solar energy is considered the best source of renewable energy because it is clean and unlimited. Solar radiation can be harnessed and converted into different forms of energy that does not pollute the environment. In order to transform solar radiation, we need collectors of sunlight, such as solar cells. The main challenges are energy security, the increasing prices of carbon-based energy sources, and global warming. We cannot use sunlight during the night, so an energy storage system (ESS) is necessary. The best ESS is one with high power and high energy density. This book introduces the basic concepts of an ESS. Written by Prof. Hee-Je Kim, who leads an interdisciplinary team at the Pusan National University, this book compiles and details the cutting-edge research that is revolutionizing solar energy by improving its efficiency and storage techniques through the development of engineered sunlight. It discusses the fabrication and commercialization of next-generation solar cells such as dye-synthesized, quantum-dot, and perovskite solar cells, besides describing the high-energy and power-density-flexible supercapacitor for a hybrid ESS, as well as the dual active bridge (DAB), DC/DC converter, MPPT, PV inverter, and remote control by a smartphone with a novel algorithm for a power-conditioning system.

Electricity from renewable sources of energy is plagued by fluctuations (due to variations in wind strength or the intensity of insolation) resulting in a lack of stability if the energy supplied from such sources is used in ‘real time’. An important solution to this problem is to store the energy electrochemically (in a secondary battery or in hydrogen and its derivatives) and to make use of it in a controlled fashion at some time after it has been initially gathered and stored. Electrochemical battery storage systems are the major technologies for decentralized storage systems and hydrogen is the only solution for long-term storage systems to provide energy during extended periods of low wind speeds or solar insolation. Future electricity grid design has to include storage systems as a major component for grid stability and for security of supply. The technology of systems designed to achieve this regulation of the supply of renewable energy, and a survey of the markets that they will serve, is the subject of this book. It includes economic aspects to guide the development of technology in the right direction. Provides state-of-the-art information on all of the storage systems together with an assessment of competing technologies Features detailed technical, economic and environmental impact information of different storage systems Contains information about the challenges that must be faced for batteries and hydrogen-storage to be used in conjunction with a fluctuating (renewable energy) power supply

Energy Storage not only plays an important role in conservinq the energy but also improves the performance and reliability of a wide range of energy systems. Energy storagp. leads to saving of premium fuels and makes the system morA cost effective by reducing the wastage of energy. In most systems there is a mismatch between the energy supply and energy demand. The energy storage can even out this imbalance and thereby help in savings of capital costs. Enerqy storage is all the more important where the enerqy source is intermittent such as Solar Energy. The use of jntermittent energy sources is likely to grow. If more and more solar energy is to be used for domestic and industrial applications then energy storage is very crucial. If no storage is used in solar energy systems then the major part of the energy demand will be met by the back-up or auxiliary energy and therefore the so called annual solar load fract]on will be very low. In case of solar energy, both short term and long term energy storage systems can be used whjch can adjust the phase difference between solar energy supply and energy demand and can match seasonal demands to the solar availability respectively. Thermal energy storage can lead to capital cost savings, fuel savjngs, and fuel substitution in many application areas. Developing an optimum thermal storaqe system is as important an area of research as developinq an alternative source of energy.

Solar Collectors, Energy Storage, and Materials covers the materials and basic components needed for solar thermal energy systems. Using thermal performance and durability as the major criteria, the twenty six chapters emphasize the modeling and assessment of devices rather than their application or cost. Each part begins with an overview and concludes with an assessment of current issues and opportunities. The contributors have been careful to document failures as well as successes in materials research. This is the fifth volume in a series that distills the results of the intensive research on and development of solar thermal energy conversion technologies from 1975 to 1986. Francis de Winter is President of the Altas Corporation, Santa Cruz, California and a member of the Santa Cruz Energy Advisory Committee. Contents: Solar Collectors. Collector Concepts and Designs. Optical Theory and Modeling of Solar Collectors. Thermal Theory and Modeling of Solar Collectors. Testing and Evaluation of Stationary Collectors. Testing and Evaluation of Tracking Collectors. Optical Research and Development. Collector Thermal Research and Development. Collector Engineering Research and Development. Solar Pond Research and Development. Reliability and Durability of Solar Collectors. Environmental Degradation of Low-Cost Solar Collectors. Energy Storage for Solar Systems. Storage Concepts and Design. Analytical and Numerical Modeling of Thermal Conversion Systems. Testing and Evaluation of Thermal Energy Storage Systems. Storage Research and Development. Materials for Solar Technologies. Materials for Solar Collector Concepts and Designs. Theory and Modeling of Solar Materials. Testing and Evaluation of Solar Materials. Exposure Testing and Evaluation of Performance Degradation. Solar Materials Research and Development.

Engineering Energy Storage explains the engineering concepts of different relevant energy technologies in a coherent manner, assessing underlying numerical material to evaluate energy, power, volume, weight and cost of new and existing energy storage systems. With numerical examples and problems with solutions, this fundamental reference on engineering principles gives guidance on energy storage devices, setting up energy system plans for smart grids. Designed for those in traditional fields of science and professional engineers in applied industries with projects related to energy and engineering, this book is an ideal resource on the topic. Contains chapter based numerical examples, with applied industry problems and solutions Assesses underlying numerical material for evaluating energy, power, volume, weight and cost of new and existing energy storage systems Offers a cross-disciplinary look across electrical, mechanical and chemical engineering aspects of energy storage

Energy Storage Systems theme is a component of Encyclopedia of Energy Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources which is part of the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The Theme is organized into six different topics which represent the main scientific areas of the theme: The first topic, Rationale of Energy Storage and Supply/Demand Matching is devoted to the discussion of essential concepts and the most important aspects of the optimization, establishment and operation of energy storage systems based on six cases as examples. The succeeding four topics are Storage of Thermal Energy; Mechanical Energy Storage; Storage of Electrical Energy; Storage of Chemical Energy and Nuclear Materials. Each of these consists of a topic chapter emphasizing the general aspects and various subject articles explaining the back ground, theory and practice of a specific type of energy storage of that topic. The last topic is transport of energy with emphasis on hydrogen as future energy carrier. It contains detailed review of other modes of energy transport and discussion of environmental effects. Fundamentals and applications of characteristic methods are presented in these volumes. These two volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students, Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy Analysts, Managers, and Decision Makers and NGOs.

This book shows the different molecular devices used for solar energy conversion and storage and the important characterization techniques for this kind of device. It has five chapters describing representative molecule-based solar cells, such as organic solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells and hybrid solar cells (perovskite solar cell and quantum dots solar cells). It also includes two chapters demonstrating the use of molecular devices in the areas of solar fuel, water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction. There are further two chapters with interesting examples of solar energy storage related devices, like solar flow battery, solar capacitor and solar energy-thermal energy storage. Three chapters introduce important techniques used to characterize, investigate and evaluate the mechanism of molecular devices. The final chapter discusses the stability of perovskite solar cells. This book is relevant for a wide readership, and is particularly useful for students, researchers and industrial professionals who are working on molecular devices for solar energy utilization.