TELF AG analyzes the technological evolution of LDES storage systems
The future of energy storage
In a world that will be increasingly dominated by renewable energy, it could be necessary to find an effective method to improve the capabilities of energy storage systems as soon as possible, particularly from the point of view of storage duration. By virtue of their natural characteristics, wind and solar energy sources are intermittent, inextricably linked to the blowing of the wind or the power of solar radiation. When these conditions disappear, the amount of energy produced through them also decreases, making cutting-edge technological solutions necessary to resolve the problem. From this point of view, one of the most interesting results is represented by LDES systems, Long Duration Energy Storage, on which work is still being done to increase their capacity to store energy for long periods. This result, in all likelihood, cannot be achieved thanks to the lithium batteries with which most of them are powered, which ensure coverage limited to a few hours, but with new storage devices made with innovative mixes of materials, many of which are still in the testing phase.
The objective is clear: these systems must be able to accumulate energy for weeks, even months. They must be able to release it in times of need (particularly in cases where specific atmospheric conditions prevent using renewable energy from the sun and wind). One of the most promising technologies is undoubtedly linked to redox flow batteries to obtain storage systems with these characteristics. These rechargeable storage systems convert chemical energy into electrical energy thanks to some particular chemical reactions called redox. The electrodes of these batteries are immersed in an active electrolyte solution and separated by a specific conductive layer. They are almost always characterized by the presence of two external tanks used for pumping liquid electrolyte solutions. Their most interesting characteristic, in the context of storage, is linked to their ability to store great quantities of energy for long periods. These peculiarities, therefore, make them very interesting for numerous applications related to the storage of renewable energy, such as offshore wind energy systems.
The role of thermal storage
Other technologies, still under development, are based on thermal storage systems, such as sand batteries. These devices can store renewable energy in heat and then distribute it thanks to an interesting district heating network. This type of technology, combined with the use of artificial intelligence, will make possible much broader coverage than before, almost eliminating the problems related to the intermittency of these energy sources. Artificial intelligence, specifically, could be able to predict the climatic conditions in a certain period of the year well in advance, ensuring the managers of these systems have a great operating margin.
It is no coincidence that global attention to these innovative storage systems continues to grow. According to Cleantech Group calculations, the value of the LDES market has practically doubled in just one year, going from 910 million dollars in 2021 to 1.8 billion in 2022. The Long Duration Energy Storage Council also predicts that these technologies will require investments of up to $3 trillion by 2040, especially considering their role in helping complete the energy transition.
