Peripherals/Energy Storage

In an environment where grid power may only be available for a few hours a day, or where energy generation is available but either generation or usage isn't constant an energy storage system is required.

A desirable storage technology would allow easy top-up and extraction of electricity. The input to the storage system wouldn’t necessarily need to be electrical but does need to be something that is available without considerably destruction systems to be set-up.

For example, zinc-air fuel cells offer some interesting advantages over standard batteries, but require a zinc distribution system to be setup in conjunction with the technology.

Below is a list of technologies which offer possible solutions;

• Car Batteries
• Deep Cycle Batteries
• Compressed Air
• Supercapacitors / Ultracapacitors
• Nanoengineered Battery
• Flywheel Storage

Advantages and Disadvantages

Storage Type	Advantages	Disadvantages
Car Batteries	Text	Inefficiencies in getting energy into and back out of the battery (You loose half the energy [1])
Deep Cycle Batteries	Text	Text
Compressed Air	Text	Text
Super/Ultracapacitors	Ability to release quick jolts of electricity and to absorb this energy just as fast	Less energy storage capacity per Kg compaired to Batteries (25 times less [2])
Technology	Text	Text

Links

• Methods of Storing Energy
• Alternative Energy Companies
• A Company developing an ultracapacitor power system to replace the electrochemical battery