/ˈɛnərdʒi ˈstɔːrɪdʒ/
noun … “Capturing energy for later use.”
Energy Storage refers to the methods and systems used to capture energy produced at one time and release it when needed, ensuring a steady supply despite variable demand or intermittent generation. Energy can be stored in electrical, chemical, mechanical, or thermal forms, and energy storage is critical for balancing supply and demand in power grids, renewable energy systems, and portable devices.
Key characteristics of Energy Storage include:
- Forms: chemical (batteries, fuel cells), mechanical (flywheels, compressed air), electrical (capacitors, supercapacitors), thermal (molten salts, phase-change materials).
- Capacity: total energy that can be stored, measured in joules (J) or kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- Power rating: rate at which stored energy can be delivered.
- Efficiency: ratio of energy output to input, accounting for losses.
- Applications: grid stabilization, renewable energy integration, electric vehicles, portable electronics, and backup power systems.
Workflow example: Charging a battery:
battery = Battery(capacity=100) -- 100 Wh
power_source = 50 -- watts
time_hours = battery.capacity / power_source
battery.charge(time_hours)
Here, energy is stored chemically in the battery and can be discharged later to power devices.
Conceptually, Energy Storage is like a reservoir: it holds energy until it is needed and releases it in controlled amounts to maintain system operation.
See Battery, Capacitor, Power, Electricity, Energy.