What is energy storage & how does it work?

Today's power flows from many more sources than it used to—and the grid needs to catch up to the progress we've made. What is energy storage and how does it work? Simply put, energy storage is the ability to capture energy at one time for use at a later time.

Who uses battery energy storage systems?

The most natural users of Battery Energy Storage Systems are electricity companies with wind and solar power plants. In this case, the BESS are typically large: they are either built near major nodes in the transmission grid, or else they are installed directly at power generation plants.

What is a battery energy storage system?

BESS are the power plants in which batteries, individually or more often when aggregated, are used to store the electricity produced by the generating plants and make it available at times of need. The fundamental components of a Battery Energy Storage System are the blocks formed by the batteries, but other elements are also present.

Why is energy storage important?

Energy storage is one of the most prominent elements in the ongoing energy transition. Indeed, its role is increasingly crucial in light of the large-scale deployment of intermittent and unpredictable renewable sources.

When can electricity be used to charge storage devices?

For example, when there is more supply than demand, such as during the night when continuously operating power plants provide firm electricity or in the middle of the day when the sun is shining brightest, the excess electricity generation can be used to charge storage devices.

What is a Bess energy storage system?

BESS are one of the main energy storage system: sometimes they are also called electrochemical energy systems to distinguish them from others, such as gravitational energy systems (including pumped-storage hydroelectric power plants), mechanical energy systems (including compressed air or flywheel systems) and (Thermal Energy Storage, TES) systems