Grid energy storage

Grid energy storage, also known as large-scale energy storage, are technologies connected to the <a href="/facts/Electrical_power_grid/RkWPqjmG">electrical power grid</a> that <a href="/facts/Energy_storage/9GWtAPeb">store energy</a> for later use. These systems help balance supply and demand by storing excess electricity from <a href="/facts/Variable_renewable_energy/kynTl1t2">variable renewables</a> such as <a href="/facts/Solar_power/NpgmEbU2">solar</a> and inflexible sources like <a href="/facts/Nuclear_power/jzSyvxSn">nuclear power</a>, releasing it when needed. They further provide <a href="/facts/Ancillary_services_(electric_power)/xcudV9uA">essential grid services</a>, such as helping to <a href="/facts/Black_start/c9gASxr6">restart the grid</a> after a <a href="/facts/Power_outage/CBp7xY9w">power outage</a>. 
As of 2023<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grid_energy_storage&action=edit">[update]</a>, the largest form of grid storage is <a href="/facts/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity/j15NI2UV">pumped-storage hydroelectricity</a>, with <a href="/facts/Battery_energy_storage_system/mGVRuDGc">utility-scale batteries</a> and behind-the-meter batteries coming second and third. <a href="/facts/Lithium-ion_battery/3L22xFhB">Lithium-ion batteries</a> are highly suited for shorter duration storage up to 8 hours. <a href="/facts/Flow_battery/hxHFE9E6">Flow batteries</a> and <a href="/facts/Compressed-air_energy_storage/GxLseg8R">compressed air energy storage</a> may provide storage for medium duration. Two forms of storage are suited for long-duration storage: <a href="/facts/Green_hydrogen/oH009fSh">green hydrogen</a>, produced via <a href="/facts/Electrolysis/pU75nCDI">electrolysis</a> and <a href="/facts/Thermal_energy_storage/t7qMtkeo">thermal energy storage</a>.
Energy storage is one option to making grids more flexible. An other solution is the use of more <a href="/facts/Dispatchable_generation/CkT25V8c">dispatchable power plants</a> that can change their output rapidly, for instance <a href="/facts/Peaking_power_plant/PQ8x2HjH">peaking power plants</a> to fill in supply gaps. <a href="/facts/Demand_response/py7m5XeC">Demand response</a> can shift load to other times and <a href="/facts/Interconnector/53thXWXy">interconnections</a> between regions can balance out fluctuations in renewables production. 
The price of storage technologies typically <a href="/facts/Experience_curve/eXBVy0Fm">goes down with experience</a>. For instance, lithium-ion batteries have been getting some 20% cheaper for each doubling of worldwide capacity. Systems with under 40% variable renewables need only short-term storage. At 80%, medium-duration storage becomes essential and beyond 90%, long-duration storage does too. The economics of long-duration storage is challenging, and alternative flexibility options like demand response may be more economic.

Grid energy storage open-in-new

Grid energy storage