Resource management

Abstract

Many discussions about renewable energy ultimately lead to a debate about energy storage. The broad range of energy storage options available is testament to the fact that there is no one-size-fits-all technology - each has its particular advantages and disadvantages. Selecting the right technology for an application requires a deep understanding of the functional demands to be placed on the storage system and, in turn, the demands that the storage system will place on the grid. Taking any of these energy storage media and building an efficient, reliable and durable grid energy storage system demands a range of technologies and competences, from power electronic conversion, through system-level and grid-level control, to forecasting and optimization. Ultimately achieving the desired functionality of energy storage in the grid necessitates an end-to-end architecture for the integration of all these elements with each other and with the grid.