The energy storage industry has expanded globally as costs continue to fall and opportunities in consumer, transportation, and grid applications are defined. As the rapid evolution of the industry continues, it has become increasingly important to understand how varying technologies compare in terms of cost and performance. This paper defines and evaluates cost and performance parameters of six battery energy storage technologies (BESS)—lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries, redox flow batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries, sodium-metal halide batteries, and zinc-hybrid cathode batteries—four non-BESS storage systems—pumped storage hydropower, flywheels, compressed air energy storage, and ultracapacitors—and combustion turbines. Cost and performance information was compiled based on an extensive literature review, conversations with vendors and stakeholders, and costs of systems procured at sites across the United States. Detailed cost and performance estimates are presented for 2018... [more]

The path to the mitigation of global climate change and global carbon dioxide emissions avoidance leads to the large-scale substitution of fossil fuels for the generation of electricity with renewable energy sources. The transition to renewables necessitates the development of large-scale energy storage systems that will satisfy the hourly demand of the consumers. This paper offers an overview of the energy storage systems that are available to assist with the transition to renewable energy. The systems are classified as mechanical (PHS, CAES, flywheels, springs), electromagnetic (capacitors, electric and magnetic fields), electrochemical (batteries, including flow batteries), hydrogen and thermal energy storage systems. Emphasis is placed on the magnitude of energy storage each system is able to achieve, the thermodynamic characteristics, the particular applications the systems are suitable for, the pertinent figures of merit and the energy dissipation during the charging and discharg... [more]