Renewable electricity and energy storage

Abstract

Abstract ‘Renewable electricity and energy storage’ addresses the transmission of electricity using high voltage alternating or direct current (HVAC or HVDC), the effect of the variability of renewable energy supplies, and the importance of energy storage. Solar and wind farms are now providing an increasing proportion of electricity on many electricity grids. This is changing the requirements on power plants, requiring fast-reacting generators, interconnectors to other grids, demand response, smart grids, and energy storage. There is a cost in accommodating the variability in supply of electricity from wind and solar farms, and surplus supply can lower revenues and give rise to a ‘missing money problem’. Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly important in providing storage for the grid and for electric vehicles. Other storage options are explored, including pumped and compressed air storage, flow batteries, and using electricity to heat or cool water or to generate a combustible fuel (power-to-gas), such as hydrogen, which can be used to provide heat sustainably.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.1093/actrade/9780198825401.003.0007

Journal

Renewable Energy: A Very Short Introduction

Year

2020