How can energy be stored?

Since we were kids, we were told not to waste food. Today – when the world is a bit smarter than a few decades ago – energy is no exception. We hope by now everyone knows why, but the question is how. Fr[AI]day prompt by Liquid Sun: How can energy be stored??

Storing energy is all about ensuring that the energy we produce never goes to waste. To do that, there are as many different ways to store it as there is ways to produce it.

Hydrogen. Energy stored in the form of hydrogen can later be used to generate electricity through fuel cells.

Batteries. If you’ve used a remote or driven an electrical vehicle you’ve used energy stored in a battery, big or small.

Thermal Energy. Heat energy can be stored in materials such as molten salt, water, or phase-change materials and used for heating, cooling, or generating electricity.

Compressed air. By compressing air into storage tanks, the energy can later be used to drive turbines.

Flywheels. Energy can be stored in the rotational energy of a flywheel, which can then be used to generate electricity.

Pumped hydro storage. Water can be pumped uphill to a higher reservoir during low demand for electricity, and then released to generate electricity during high demand.

Capacitors. Electrical energy can be stored in capacitors that store electrical charge and can discharge it quickly when needed.

Like all of us, these methods have their pros and cons. The choice of method depends on the type of energy being stored, the amount of energy required and the lifespan of the storage system. Next time we’re tuning back to hydrocarbons – why are they critical to society??