Energy Storage

Energy storage can improve the efficiency and reliability of the electric utility system by reducing the requirements for spinning reserves to meet peak power demands, making better use of efficient baseload generation, and allowing greater use of renewable energy technologies. A “spinning reserve” is a generator that is spinning and synchronized with the grid, ready for immediate power generation — like a car engine running with the gearbox in neutral.

A battery is a device that stores chemical energy in its active materials and converts it, on demand, into electrical energy by means of an electrochemical reaction. An electrochemical reaction is a chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons, and it is that reaction which creates electricity. There are three main parts of a battery: the anode, cathode, and electrolyte. The anode is the “fuel” electrode which gives up electrons to the external circuit to create the flow of electrons or electricity. The cathode is the oxidizing electrode which accepts electrons in the external circuit. Finally, the electrolyte carries the electric current, as ions, inside the cell, between the anode and cathode.