Energy storage equipment: a solid shield for energy security

At present, energy security faces many challenges. First, the reserves of traditional fossil energy are limited and unevenly distributed. With the development of the global economy, the demand for energy continues to increase, and the supply pressure of fossil energy is increasing. Secondly, the stability of energy supply is also affected by many factors, such as geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters, etc., which may lead to energy supply interruptions. In addition, the intermittent and instability of renewable energy also poses challenges to the energy system. The power generation of renewable energy such as solar energy and wind energy depends on weather conditions, and its output power has a large volatility, which brings difficulties to the stable operation of the power grid.

Energy storage equipment plays a vital role in solving energy security problems. First, energy storage equipment can store excess electrical energy and release it when energy supply is insufficient, thereby improving the stability of energy supply. For example, during the peak period of renewable energy generation, excess electrical energy is stored and released during peak electricity consumption or when renewable energy generation is insufficient to meet electricity demand. Secondly, energy storage equipment can balance the load of the power grid and improve the reliability of the power grid. By quickly responding to changes in the load of the power grid, energy storage equipment can adjust the frequency and voltage of the power grid to prevent the collapse of the power grid. In addition, energy storage equipment can also promote the large-scale application of renewable energy. By storing excess electricity generated by renewable energy, energy storage equipment can solve the intermittent and instability problems of renewable energy and increase the proportion of renewable energy in the energy structure.

Common types of energy storage equipment

• Battery energy storage: Battery energy storage is one of the most widely used energy storage technologies. Lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries, etc. are all common types of battery energy storage. Lithium-ion batteries have the advantages of high energy density, long cycle life, and low self-discharge rate, but their cost is relatively high. Lead-acid batteries have low costs, but limited energy density and cycle life. Sodium-sulfur batteries have high energy density and efficiency, but need to operate at high temperatures and have high safety requirements.
• Pumped storage: Pumped storage is a traditional energy storage technology that uses the potential energy of water to store energy. During the low electricity consumption period, water is pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir, and the electrical energy is converted into water potential energy and stored; during the peak electricity consumption period, the water in the upper reservoir is released, and the water potential energy is converted into electrical energy through the turbine. Pumped storage has the advantages of mature technology, large capacity, and high reliability, but the construction cost is high and it is restricted by geographical conditions.
• Compressed air energy storage: Compressed air energy storage is to compress and store air, and release it when needed to drive turbines to generate electricity. Compressed air energy storage has the advantages of large capacity, long life, and fast response speed, but it also has problems such as low efficiency and the need for large gas storage facilities.

As a solid shield for energy security, energy storage equipment plays an important role in ensuring stable energy supply, promoting the development of renewable energy, and improving the reliability of the power grid. With the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous expansion of applications, energy storage equipment will make greater contributions to global energy security.