State grid energy storage transfer box

How can energy storage help the electric grid?

Three distinct yet interlinked dimensions can illustrate energy storage’s expanding role in the current and future electric grid—renewable energy integration, grid optimization, and electrification and decentralization support.

What is grid energy storage?

Grid energy storage (also called large-scale energy storage) is a collection of methods used for energy storage on a large scale within an electrical power grid.

Which energy storage technologies are suitable for grid-scale applications?

Numerous energy storage technologies (pumped-storage hydroelectricity, electric battery, flow battery, flywheel energy storage, supercapacitor etc.) are suitable for grid-scale applications, however their characteristics differ.

Can electric vehicles be used for grid energy storage?

The electric vehicle fleet has a large overall battery capacity, which can potentially be used for grid energy storage. This could be in the form of vehicle-to-grid (V2G), where cars store energy when they are not in use, or by repurposing batteries from cars at the end of the vehicle's life.

Is energy storage a transmission asset?

Storage as a transmission asset: Deploying storage systems strategically on the transmission network can help address multiple grid challenges and provide valuable services. Several states have initiated studies to evaluate the role of energy storage as a transmission asset.

What is grid energy storage & supply-demand leveling?

Grid energy storage is used to shift generation from times of peak load to off-peak hours. Power plants are able to run at their peak efficiency during nights and weekends. Supply-demand leveling strategies may be intended to reduce the cost of supplying peak power or to compensate for the intermittent generation of wind and solar power.