LAPSE:2025.0492
Published Article
LAPSE:2025.0492
Dynamic Simulation and Life Cycle Assessment of Energy Storage Systems Connecting Variable Renewable Sources with Regional Energy Demand
June 27, 2025
Abstract
To achieve carbon neutrality, the installation of variable renewable energy (VRE) has been accelerated. However, the inherent variability of VRE can be mitigated through the installation of energy storage. This study aims to evaluate life cycle impacts of energy storage systems utilizing batteries, hydrogen storage, or thermal energy storage. A model of the energy storage systems with VRE was developed, and the annual energy flow simulations were conducted. The energy storage system targeted in this study assumed that all energy derived from VRE was stored in the energy storage and supplied to consumers. The amount of electricity to-be-sold from the energy storage system, based on the capacity of VRE and the installed energy storage, was calculated. A life cycle assessment was performed to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, abiotic resource depletion (ARD), and intensity of GHG and ARD as life cycle impacts. The smallest life cycle impacts varied depending on the type and scale of energy storage. This quantitative evaluation of the energy supply capacity and the environmental impacts of the energy storage systems could provide valuable insights for designing efficient energy storage systems integrated with VRE, tailored to regional energy supply requirements.
To achieve carbon neutrality, the installation of variable renewable energy (VRE) has been accelerated. However, the inherent variability of VRE can be mitigated through the installation of energy storage. This study aims to evaluate life cycle impacts of energy storage systems utilizing batteries, hydrogen storage, or thermal energy storage. A model of the energy storage systems with VRE was developed, and the annual energy flow simulations were conducted. The energy storage system targeted in this study assumed that all energy derived from VRE was stored in the energy storage and supplied to consumers. The amount of electricity to-be-sold from the energy storage system, based on the capacity of VRE and the installed energy storage, was calculated. A life cycle assessment was performed to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, abiotic resource depletion (ARD), and intensity of GHG and ARD as life cycle impacts. The smallest life cycle impacts varied depending on the type and scale of energy storage. This quantitative evaluation of the energy supply capacity and the environmental impacts of the energy storage systems could provide valuable insights for designing efficient energy storage systems integrated with VRE, tailored to regional energy supply requirements.
Record ID
Subject
Suggested Citation
Yamaki A, Fujii S, Kanematsu Y, Kikuchi Y. Dynamic Simulation and Life Cycle Assessment of Energy Storage Systems Connecting Variable Renewable Sources with Regional Energy Demand. Systems and Control Transactions 4:2114-2120 (2025) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.182022
Author Affiliations
Yamaki A: The University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Tokyo, Japan
Fujii S: The University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Tokyo, Japan; The University of Tokyo, Department of Chemical System Engineering, Tokyo, Japan
Kanematsu Y: The University of Tokyo, Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society" Organization for Interdisciplinary Research Project,, Tokyo, Japan
Kikuchi Y: The University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Tokyo, Japan; The University of Tokyo, Department of Chemical System Engineering, Tokyo, Japan; The University of Tokyo, Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society" Organization for Interdis
Fujii S: The University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Tokyo, Japan; The University of Tokyo, Department of Chemical System Engineering, Tokyo, Japan
Kanematsu Y: The University of Tokyo, Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society" Organization for Interdisciplinary Research Project,, Tokyo, Japan
Kikuchi Y: The University of Tokyo, Institute for Future Initiatives, Tokyo, Japan; The University of Tokyo, Department of Chemical System Engineering, Tokyo, Japan; The University of Tokyo, Presidential Endowed Chair for "Platinum Society" Organization for Interdis
Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
4
First Page
2114
Last Page
2120
Year
2025
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: 2114-2120-1659-SCT-4-2025, Publication Type: Journal Article
Record Map
Published Article
LAPSE:2025.0492
This Record
External Link
https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.182022
Article DOI
Download
Meta
Record Statistics
Record Views
573
Version History
[v1] (Original Submission)
Jun 27, 2025
Verified by curator on
Jun 27, 2025
This Version Number
v1
Citations
Most Recent
This Version
URL Here
http://psecommunity.org/LAPSE:2025.0492
Record Owner
PSE Press
Links to Related Works
References Cited
- Rahman MM, Gemechu E, Oni AO, Kumar A. The greenhouse gas emissions' footprint and net energy ratio of utility-scale electro-chemical energy storage systems. Energy Convers Manag. 2021;244: 114497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114497
- Ozawa A, Kudoh Y, Kitagawa N, Muramatsu R. Life cycle CO2 emissions from power generation using hydrogen energy carriers. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2019;44: 11219-11232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.02.230
- Oró E, Gil A, de Gracia A, Boer D, Cabeza LF. Comparative life cycle assessment of thermal energy storage systems for solar power plants. Renew Energy. 2012;44: 166-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.01.008
- Yamaki A, Fujii S, Kanematsu Y, Kikuchi Y. Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of cogeneration energy hubs at Japanese paper mills with thermal energy storage. Energy. 2023;270: 126886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.126886
- Wang Y, Wang B, Chu C-C, Pota H, Gadh R. Energy management for a commercial building microgrid with stationary and mobile battery storage. Energy Build. 2016;116: 141-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.12.055
- Yamaki A, Fujii S, Kanematsu Y, Kikuchi Y. Comparative life cycle assessment of energy storage systems for connecting large-scale wind energy to the grid. J Chem Eng Japan. 2024;57. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219592.2024.2406316
- Japan Meteorological Agency. Historical meteorological data. [cited 13 Mar 2025]. Available: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/index.php
- Hokkaido Electric Power Network, Inc. Download histrical electricity usage data. [cited 13 Mar 2025]. Available: https://denkiyoho.hepco.co.jp/area_download.html
- Connexx systems. Large Capacity Energy Storage System/Container-Type. Available: https://www.connexxsys.com/products/c-type-ess/
- Inomata A, Hashimoto S, Yamanouchi K, Yamamoto T. Hydrogen StorageDevelopment of Liquefied Hydrogen Terminal. 2020;182: 20-23
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Inventory Database for environmental analysis version 3.4.1. 2024
- Krishnan S, Koning V, Theodorus de Groot M, de Groot A, Mendoza PG, Junginger M, et al. Present and future cost of alkaline and PEM electrolyser stacks. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2023;48: 32313-32330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.05.031
- Bicer Y, Khalid F. Life cycle environmental impact comparison of solid oxide fuel cells fueled by natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia and methanol for combined heat and power generation. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2020;45: 3670-3685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.11.122
- Morimoto K, Yamashita S, Watanabe D. Hydrogen liquefaction and storage system. J Jpn Weld Soc. 2019;88: 56-62. https://doi.org/10.2207/jjws.88.56
- Wang Y, Liu J, Ma X, Ouyang Y, Zhu D, Zhang Y. Numerical investigation on the thermal performance of a molten salt tank under different electric heating method. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells. 2024;278: 113183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2024.113183
- Kikuchi Y, Suwa I, Heiho A, Dou Y, Lim S, Namihira T, et al. Separation of cathode particles and aluminum current foil in lithium-ion battery by high-voltage pulsed discharge Part II: Prospective life cycle assessment based on experimental data. Waste Manag. 2021;132: 86-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2021.07.016
- Oshita Y, Heiho A, Ouchida K, Kanematsu Y, Fukushima Y, Kikuchi Y. Analyzing Socio-economic effect induced by technology implementation on available renewables: A case study of tanegashima, japan. J Life Cycle Assess Jpn. 2019;15: 360-376. https://doi.org/10.3370/lca.15.360