How Many Sources Of Stored Energy Are There?

Stored energy refers to energy that is contained within a system and held in reserve to do work. Having different sources of stored energy available is crucial for society, as it provides the capacity to operate devices, power infrastructure, and perform work even when the primary energy input is interrupted. For example, a battery stores chemical energy that allows a cell phone to function when disconnected from the electric grid. Stored energy acts as a reservoir that can be drawn upon on demand, offering reliability and flexibility to energy systems.

There are numerous forms in which energy can be stored, each with its own advantages and ideal applications. Evaluating the different options for energy storage enables matching the best technology to a given energy need. Developing and utilizing various storage methods also promotes resilience and sustainability in how humanity powers civilization. This article will examine the major categories of stored energy, providing an overview of how they work and their roles in enabling modern technology and lifestyles.

Chemical

Chemical energy storage involves converting chemical potential energy into electrical energy. Some common examples of chemical energy storage include batteries, fuel cells, and hydrogen storage.

Batteries are electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Common battery types include lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, and lithium-ion. Batteries store energy in chemical reactants and release it through redox reactions when connected in a circuit. They are rechargeable and widely used in portable electronics and electric vehicles.

Fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel (hydrogen) and oxidant (oxygen). The reactants flow into the cell, and the reaction takes place at the electrodes, producing an electric current. Fuel cells are very efficient and have potential applications in electric vehicles, backup power, and distributed generation.

Hydrogen storage involves storing hydrogen fuel for use in fuel cells. Hydrogen has a very high energy density by weight but requires cryogenic temperatures or very high pressures for storage. Ongoing research targets safe and efficient hydrogen storage methods like metal hydrides and carbon materials.

Electrical

Electricity can be stored in capacitors, supercapacitors, and superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES). Capacitors store electrical energy in an electric field between two oppositely charged conductive plates. The amount of energy stored depends on the capacitance and voltage. Supercapacitors have very high capacitance and can store much more energy than regular capacitors.

Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) stores energy in the magnetic field created by the flow of direct current in a superconducting coil. Superconducting materials have zero electrical resistance below critical temperature, allowing current to flow indefinitely without loss. The stored energy can be released back to the network by discharging the coil.

Mechanical

Mechanical energy storage involves converting electricity into kinetic or potential energy that can be stored for later use. There are three main methods for mechanical energy storage:

Pumped Hydro Storage

Pumped hydro storage works by using electricity to pump water uphill into a reservoir. When electricity is needed, the water is released to flow downhill through a turbine, generating electricity. Pumped hydro is one of the largest forms of energy storage used today.

Compressed Air Energy Storage

Compressed air energy storage compresses air in an airtight underground cavern or container using electricity. To generate electricity, the compressed air is released to turn a turbine. This is also a commercially available storage method.

Flywheels

Flywheels are mechanical devices that spin at high speeds to store rotational kinetic energy. Electricity spins the flywheel, and the energy is drawn back out by using the flywheel to turn a generator. Flywheels provide short-duration energy storage.

Thermal

One of the oldest forms of energy storage is thermal storage. Thermal storage utilizes different mediums to contain and release heat or cold between periods of production and usage. There are three main types of thermal storage: molten salt storage, ice storage, and steam accumulators.

Molten salt storage involves heating up molten salt, usually a mixture of sodium and potassium nitrate. The molten salt retains the thermal energy and when electricity is needed, the heat is used to boil water and spin a turbine. This allows energy from sources like solar thermal plants to be stored for later use. Molten salt storage can hold energy for many hours which helps even out supply and demand.

Ice storage, known as ice banking, creates ice at night when electricity prices are lower. The ice is then used for cooling needs during the daytime when electricity prices are higher. This improves the efficiency of cooling systems by shifting the energy load. The ice acts as a battery, being charged at night and discharging cooling during the day.

Steam accumulators store heat from steam in large insulated pressure tanks. The steam heats up minerals inside the tank. When electricity is needed, the hot minerals boil water to generate steam which drives turbines. This allows steam from sources like nuclear plants or waste heat to be captured and used later during peak demand.

Electromagnetic

One important source of stored energy is electromagnetic energy stored in superconducting coils. Superconducting materials have zero electrical resistance below a critical temperature, allowing electric currents to persist indefinitely without losing any energy. This enables the construction of superconducting coils that can store huge amounts of electrical energy.

The most common superconducting materials used in energy storage are metallic low-temperature superconductors made from niobium-titanium alloys. These can reach superconductivity at temperatures around 9-10 K. High-temperature superconductors made from ceramic cuprates can operate at higher temperatures above 70 K, but are currently more expensive to manufacture than metallic superconductors.

Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems store energy in the magnetic field created by the flow of direct current in a superconducting coil. They can charge and discharge very quickly and efficiently, responding to power demands in a fraction of a cycle. This makes them ideal for load leveling on electric grids. The stored energy can also provide backup power in case of grid failure. Though still an emerging technology, superconducting coils have the potential to store huge amounts of energy to balance renewable power sources and strengthen energy grids.

Nuclear

Nuclear energy can be harnessed through nuclear reactions and stored for later use. One way to store nuclear energy is in nuclear batteries. These batteries generate electricity from the energy released by the decay of radioactive isotopes. The isotopes are chosen so that they decay slowly, releasing energy over an extended period of time. This allows nuclear batteries to provide power output for years or even decades.

Some common radioactive isotopes used in nuclear batteries include strontium-90, promethium-147, plutonium-238 and americium-241. The isotope is sealed in a capsule along with sensors and converts the nuclear energy into electrical energy through a process like thermionic conversion or beta voltaics. Nuclear batteries have no moving parts, require little maintenance, are resistant to environmental extremes and have long lifespans. This makes them well suited for low power applications in remote or hazardous locations where replacing batteries routinely would be difficult.

Some example applications of nuclear batteries include powering spacecraft equipment, remote weather stations, marine buoys, pacemakers and microelectronics. While the upfront cost of nuclear batteries is higher than chemical batteries, the long term energy output results in lower total mission cost in many situations. However, the use of radioactive material requires appropriate shielding, regulation and disposal – factors which need to be considered when evaluating nuclear batteries.

Gravitational

Gravitational potential energy can be harnessed and stored for later use. Two major forms of gravitational energy storage are pumped storage hydroelectricity and compressed air energy storage.

Pumped storage hydroelectricity accounts for over 90% of bulk storage capacity worldwide. It involves pumping water uphill into a reservoir during off-peak hours when electricity demand and rates are low. Then, during periods of high electrical demand, the stored water is released downhill through turbines to generate electricity.

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is another large-scale way to store energy using gravitational force. During low electricity demand, excess power from the grid is used to compress air into an underground cavern or reservoir. When electricity demand is high, the pressurized air is heated and expanded through a turbine to generate power.

Biological Energy Sources

Biological sources of stored energy utilize organic matter such as plants and animal waste. There are three main types of biological energy sources:

Biofuels

Biofuels are fuels derived from biomass like plants and vegetable oils. Common biofuels include ethanol, biodiesel, and biogas. Ethanol is made by fermenting the sugars in crops like corn and sugarcane. Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. Biogas is generated from the breakdown of organic matter like manure.

Biomass

Biomass refers to organic material that comes from plants and animals. It includes wood, agricultural waste, and manure. Biomass can be burned directly for heating or converted into liquid biofuels or biogas. Burning biomass releases the solar energy captured by plants during photosynthesis.

Bioenergy

Bioenergy is renewable energy derived from biomass. It can be used to generate electricity, provide heating, or be converted into liquid biofuels for transportation. Bioenergy technologies include anaerobic digestion, gasification, pyrolysis, and combustion. Bioenergy is considered carbon-neutral because the carbon released is recaptured when new biomass grows.

Conclusion

In summary, there are a variety of ways to store energy, including chemical, electrical, mechanical, thermal, electromagnetic, nuclear, gravitational, and biological storage methods. Each method has its own advantages and applications. Having diverse energy storage options is crucial for building resilient and sustainable energy systems.

The ability to store energy allows us to buffer and control energy flows. Storage helps balance supply and demand, especially with intermittent renewable sources. It provides energy security by reducing disruptions. Storage also enables energy to be available when and where it is needed. Furthermore, storage technologies can optimize energy efficiency and reduce costs.

Continued innovation in storage is important to increase capacity, efficiency, and flexibility. Developing improved large-scale storage will be key for enabling greater reliance on renewable energy. Overall, having a mix of storage options creates a robust energy infrastructure for the future.