The market for energy storage technologies knows a vast number of different technical approaches. These are typically classified according to the forms of energy they receive and provide (X-to-Y) or the underlying physical principle (e.g. electrical, thermal, chemical). Specific design, mode of operation, storage duration, and capacity vary greatly depending on the individual unit and its use case. Also, the ability to shift between different forms of energy is a big factor in choosing the right storage technology. Power-to-gas, for example, enables the integration of renewable energy into the transport and heating sectors, while power-to-heat facilitates the use of thermal storages over electrical ones, thereby cutting costs.The market for energy storage technologies knows a vast number of different technical approaches. These are typically classified according to the forms of energy they receive and provide (X-to-Y) or the underlying physical principle (e.g. electrical, thermal, chemical). Specific design, mode of operation, storage duration, and capacity vary greatly depending on the individual unit and its use case. Also, the ability to shift between different forms of energy is a big factor in choosing the right storage technology. Power-to-gas, for example, enables the integration of renewable energy into the transport and heating sectors, while power-to-heat facilitates the use of thermal storages over electrical ones, thereby cutting costs.
This collection of fact sheets and exemplary use cases gives an overview of the different energy storage technologies and insight into their working principles and use cases.