Techno-economic analysis of electricity storage systems
Abstract
Against the background of an increasing share of intermittent renewable energies in power generation, in the medium to long term, electricity storage could be a key technology of strategic importance with regard to grid stability, grid extension and security of supply. In this context, this chapter analyses the economic feasibility of applying electricity storage technologies in energy markets. Additionally, resource requirements and environmental aspects, as well as health and safety issues, resulting from electricity storage are examined. The focus is on stationary storage technologies with the potential of balancing fluctuations due to intermittent renewable energies, i.e. allowing storing electricity over time periods of several hours, days or weeks. Conventional technologies, such as pumped hydro-energy storage and lead acid (LA) batteries, as well as innovative alternatives such as advanced adiabatic (AA) compressed air energy storage (CAES) and redox flow batteries (RFB), which are still under development, are considered. Hydrogen storage, lithium ion batteries and sodium sulphur batteries are also considered, representing further alternatives widely discussed today.
