Beyond Batteries: New Energy Storage Technologies in Development
Energy Storage Goes Beyond Batteries | Image Credit: Swamini Khanvilkar

Beyond Batteries: New Energy Storage Technologies in Development

Researchers and companies are finding innovative ways to cut costs and store large amounts of energy for extended periods. To support the increasing use of variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, more energy storage must be added to the grid to ensure stability and electricity availability.

Battery alternatives are being explored, including pumped-storage hydropower, the foundation for 90% of global grid storage. This system involves moving water uphill and using gravity to generate electricity later. However, scaling can be challenging due to specific geographic conditions and potential ecosystem disruptions.

Gravity-based systems

Gravity-based systems, such as elevators or lifting weights underground, are being developed to store energy for longer durations. These systems may have high efficiency and longevity but require significant construction and maintenance efforts.

EnergyVault is a Swiss-based startup aiming to revolutionize energy storage using gravity as its main component. The company’s approach involves stacking giant bricks into towers that can be raised and lowered using cranes and storing the potential energy in the blocks’ position. While EnergyVault is progressing on a planned facility in China, which will use this system to store renewable energy for later use, the company is also deploying many lithium-ion battery installations.

Compressed-air energy

Compressed-air energy storage works by converting pressure into usable energy. Pressure can be increased by squeezing something into an underground salt cavern. Electric pumps push air into the cavern when electricity needs to be stored. To generate electricity, a valve is released, allowing the escaping air to spin a turbine. Compressed-air storage facilities have previously relied on fossil fuels.

Hydrostor is a Canadian company specializing in compressed-air energy storage. The company uses underwater balloons to store compressed air in lakes or oceans. Hydrostor is building California’s world’s largest compressed-air storage facility, which will drill three shafts deep into the earth to store the compressed air. The billion-dollar project aims to store energy and stabilize California’s grid.

Energy Dome is an Italian startup developing a new approach to energy storage using compressed carbon dioxide instead of air. This technology can enable large-scale energy storage without requiring underground storage caverns. Energy Dome aims to provide a flexible, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for energy storage that can be integrated with renewable energy sources.

Geothermal energy

In addition to developing new energy storage technologies, some groups are exploring ways to integrate them with electricity generation to increase flexibility in power plants. Geothermal energy is an example of baseload energy, with power plants running constantly.

However, a startup called Fervo Energy is revolutionizing geothermal energy by demonstrating that its wells can be used for energy storage. By pumping water into the wells and increasing underground pressure over time, the stored energy can be released to generate more electricity than usual. This innovative technology could transform the capabilities of geothermal plants and provide a new solution for large-scale energy storage.

Final thoughts

While batteries are a crucial component of energy storage systems, they possess limitations that necessitate the exploration of alternatives. Battery lifespan and the need for frequent replacement are two of the most significant limitations. Furthermore, the production and disposal of batteries can have substantial environmental impacts.

Moreover, batteries have a restricted capacity for long-term energy storage, becoming increasingly critical as renewable energy sources such as wind and solar become more widespread. Developing novel energy storage technologies, such as those that utilize compressed air, gravity, or geothermal wells, can aid in addressing these limitations and delivering more flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective energy storage solutions.

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