Energy Storage Technologies for Utility Scale Intermittent Renewable Energy Systems

Abstract

If solar-generated electricity is to be a credible alternative to fossil or nuclear power it must have technical characteristics equal to those sources of energy; that is, it must be easily utilized in a modern industrial state, and its cost must be reasonable. Since renewable resources are generally diffuse, remote from major demand centers, and intermittent, the issues of transmission and storage must be addressed. Indeed, access to and cost of transmission and system reliability penalties are already having an impact on the integration of wind energy onto utility grids.