Energy storage – making solar power flexible and secure

Energy storage makes solar power flexible and secures the supply beyond the moment of generation. The articles present solutions for households, businesses, and networked systems – from batteries to intelligent load management.

Energy storage – all articles on the topic of electricity storage systems

Why energy storage is central to the energy transition

With the increasing share of renewable energies, the importance of energy storage is growing significantly. Electricity from photovoltaics or wind is not always available when it is needed. Storage solutions compensate for this time lag and help to better coordinate generation and consumption. For households, businesses, and energy suppliers, this means greater independence from the grid, higher self-consumption rates, and a more stable energy supply. At the same time, storage systems relieve the burden on the grid infrastructure by reducing peak loads and cushioning feed-in fluctuations.

Storage technologies and their main areas of application

Energy storage systems differ in terms of technology, capacity, and area of application. The most widely used today are lithium-ion-based battery storage systems, which are used in both private and commercial environments. In addition, there are other concepts that offer advantages depending on the requirements. Common storage solutions include:

• Battery storage for optimizing self-consumption and emergency power supply
• Commercial storage for peak load capping and grid stabilization
• Neighborhood and large-scale storage for the integration of renewable energies
• Systems with intelligent energy management for consumption control

Interaction between energy storage systems, grids, and consumers

Modern energy storage systems are increasingly part of networked energy systems. They communicate with photovoltaic systems, charging infrastructure, heat pumps, or industrial consumers and respond dynamically to supply and demand. This creates a flexible overall system that distributes energy efficiently. For decision-makers and experts, it is particularly relevant how storage solutions can be integrated into existing structures. Aspects such as scalability, controllability, and long-term economic efficiency play a central role here. Energy storage systems are thus evolving from mere add-on components to active building blocks of an intelligent energy supply.

Thermal energy storage systems for the use of thermal energy

Thermal energy storage systems take a different approach: they store energy not as electricity, but directly as heat. This form of storage is particularly efficient when heat is to be used immediately – for example, for heating systems, hot water, or industrial processes. Instead of converting electrical energy, existing heat is conserved and released again when needed. Thermal energy storage systems offer great practical benefits, especially in combination with renewable energy sources. They enable surplus energy to be used sensibly and supply gaps to be closed without additional conversion losses. In the overall system, they complement electrical storage and hydrogen solutions and contribute to the holistic and demand-oriented use of renewable energy.

Storage solutions for renewable power generation and hydrogen

Modern storage systems are a key prerequisite for making energy from renewable sources reliably usable. Since electricity generation from wind and solar power fluctuates, surplus electrical energy must be stored temporarily in order to make it available at a later time or in other locations. In addition to stationary battery systems, new concepts such as mobile energy storage are also being used, for example for temporary applications or off-grid locations. Hydrogen also plays an important role as a chemical energy carrier. Surplus electricity can be converted into hydrogen by electrolysis and stored long-term in a hydrogen storage facility. This form of storage is particularly suitable for seasonal balancing effects and large amounts of energy, where conventional battery storage systems reach their limits.