Introduction to the techniques used to store thermal and electrical energy.
Energy Storage Research & Development
Many governments have committed to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. They have decided to strengthen their national efforts to increase the deployment of energy conservation technologies and utilization of renewable energy sources. So far in most industrialized countries, renewable energy sources ... read more
Underground Thermal Energy Storage
The most frequently used storage technology, which makes use of the underground, is Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage. This technology uses a natural underground layer (e.g. a sand, sandstone, or chalk layer) as a storage medium for the temporary storage of heat or cold (see schematic). The transfer of thermal energy is realized ... read more
Phase change materials and chemical reactions
Sensible heat energy storage has the advantage of being relatively cheap but the energy density is low and there is a gliding discharging temperature. To overcome those disadvantages phase change materials (PCM’s) could be used for thermal energy storage. The change of phase could be a ... read more
Water tanks
The use of hot water tanks is one of the best known thermal energy storage technologies. The hot water tank serves the purpose of energy saving when e.g. applied to a solar tap water system and an energy supply system with cogeneration. The major aim of ... read more
Electrical energy storage
There is currently considerable interest in electrical energy storage technologies, for a variety of reasons. These include changes in the worldwide utility regulatory environment, an ever increasing reliance on electricity in industry, commerce and the home, the growth of renewable energy sources to meet the growing demand ... read more
