Energy storage beyond batteries

Can a battery store energy?

Using chemical reactions to store energy is handy and scaleable, and there are about a million ways to do it, which is why batteries have basically become synonymous with energy storage. But more groups are starting to think outside the battery.

Are lithium-ion batteries a good choice for electrical energy storage?

The tremendous improvement in performance and cost of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have made them the technology of choice for electrical energy storage. While established battery chemistries and c...

Are Li-ion batteries a good choice for energy storage?

While established battery chemistries and cell architectures for Li-ion batteries achieve good power and energy density, LIBs are unlikely to meet all the performance, cost, and scaling targets required for energy storage, in particular, in large-scale applications such as electrified transportation and grids.

Are na-based batteries the future of energy storage?

Indeed, in the last decade, the development of Na-ion and Na-based chemistries, including solid-state systems, Na−sulfur (Na/S) and Na–air (Na/O 2), has continuously grown. Na-based batteries have the potential to represent the next generation sustainable and low-cost energy storage solution.

How can we save energy without a battery?

But more groups are starting to think outside the battery. In an effort to cut costs and store lots of energy for long periods of time, researchers and companies alike are getting creative: pumping water into the earth, compressing gas in underground caverns or massive tanks, even lifting giant blocks.

Could physical energy storage help stabilize the grid?

Physical energy storage could be a cheap and long-lasting way to stabilize the grid. This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review's weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here. If y’all have been around for a while, you know that I love writing about batteries (see exhibits A, B, and C ).