HYBRID ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES: APPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES

Alexandru Ciocan*, Mihai Balan, Alexandru Rizoiu

National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies – ICSI Rm. Valcea, 240050, Rm. Valcea, Uzinei Street no. 4, P.O. Box Râureni 7, Valcea, Romania

ABSTRACT

The present work is focused on applications which aim to store energy from renewable sources, sun and wind, in small scale systems. Two storage systems are considered in this paper, one, in which energy is stored in Li-Ion batteries and another when the energy is stored in a form of compressed air. For each of this systems are presented a number of advantages, disadvantages and the challenges at which this are subjected. To capture the energy provided by renewable sources are used: a wind turbine, several photovoltaic panels and a solar concentrator equipped with a hot air engine (Stirling). On-peak hours the energy is stored, both electric and as well thermal, and used during off-peak periods. The article presents an overview for several scenarios analyzed referring to the energy storage management.

Using even small systems for energy storage together with renewable energy sources represents a major challenge and definitely a challenge that could ensure the transition to a viable economic future and a decarbonized economy.

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, concentrating solar power, combine heat and power.