Grid energy storage

Grid energy storage captures electricity or converts it into another form for later use in an electricity network. It shifts energy across time to help balance supply and demand and support reliable operation.

Pumped-storage hydroelectricity: A storage method that pumps water uphill when electricity is available and releases it through turbines when power is needed. It stores grid energy as gravitational potential energy in elevated water.
Frequency regulation: The adjustment of power supply or demand to keep grid frequency near its target value. Storage can change output rapidly to correct short-term frequency deviations.
Demand response: Changes in electricity consumption made in response to grid conditions, prices, or control signals. It balances the grid by changing demand rather than storing and later supplying energy.
Variable renewable energy: Electricity generation from renewable sources whose output varies with weather and time, especially wind and solar. Storage can shift variable generation toward times when demand is higher.
Levelized cost of storage: A measure of the average cost of storing and delivering energy over a system's lifetime. It helps compare technologies while revealing how cycling and duration affect economics.
Lithium-ion battery: A rechargeable battery that stores energy through the movement of lithium ions between electrodes. Its fast response and modular design make it a major source of grid-scale battery storage.
Peak shaving: Reducing maximum electricity demand by shifting or supplying part of consumption during peak periods. Discharging storage at high-demand times can reduce grid peaks.
Natural gas power plant: A generating facility that burns natural gas to produce electricity. Unlike storage, it creates electrical energy from fuel but emits carbon dioxide during operation.
Capacity credit: The contribution of a resource to meeting peak electricity demand with a specified level of reliability. Storage's dependable contribution can decline as more systems discharge during the same peak hours.
Grid-scale battery safety: The engineering and operational practices used to prevent and manage hazards in large battery installations. Thermal runaway and fire risks constrain siting, design, and public acceptance.

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