1. The fundamental way to achieve carbon neutrality lies in energy transformation
China’s Sustainable Development Strategy: The Dual Carbon Goal
Achieving carbon neutrality is at the forefront of China’s sustainable development strategy, with a focus on energy transformation towards solar and wind dominance.
Transitioning Energy Sources
To realize carbon neutrality, the shift from fossil fuels to solar and wind energy is imperative. Currently, solar and wind energy constitute a mere 5% of the energy mix, a figure that must soar to over 60% by 2060.
Challenges Ahead
Despite strides in photovoltaic and wind technologies, China grapples with challenges like the sluggish decline in fossil fuel usage and mounting pressures for energy conservation and emission reduction. The intermittency and instability of renewable sources have led to instances of energy wastage.
The Role of Energy Storage Technology
Addressing these challenges necessitates advancements in energy storage technology. Such innovations can mitigate energy fluctuations, enhancing practical utilization levels. Energy storage is now a cornerstone of the new energy system, pivotal in aspects spanning sources, grids, and consumption.
2. Three major requirements and technical challenges of energy storage
Crucial Role of Large-Scale Energy Storage Technology in Achieving Carbon Neutrality
In the pursuit of carbon neutrality, the significance of large-scale energy storage technology cannot be overstated. Unlike consumer devices such as mobile phones, megawatt-level or higher energy storage systems must meet three fundamental requirements: safety and reliability, economic viability, and resource accessibility.
Key Considerations for Large-Scale Energy Storage
- Safety and Reliability: Safety stands as a paramount concern, given that any failure in a large energy storage unit could lead to catastrophic consequences.
- Economic Feasibility: Economic viability hinges on factors like cost-effectiveness, energy conversion efficiency, and cycle longevity.
- Resource Accessibility: Materials utilized in energy storage technologies must be resource-abundant, and installations should not be overly restricted by natural conditions.
Importance of Long-Term Energy Storage
As the proportion of wind and solar energy in the energy mix rises, the need for long-term energy storage technologies intensifies. Unlike current lithium battery storage systems, which typically offer only 2-4 hours of storage, long-term solutions can manage energy supply and demand over extended periods, adapting to fluctuations in renewable energy sources and ensuring energy equilibrium.
Current Energy Storage Landscape
Mainstream energy storage methods encompass pumped storage, lithium batteries, and a limited deployment of compressed air technology. While installed capacities have surged to 31.4GW, the utilization rate stands at a mere 9%, underscoring the need to enhance the practical efficiency of energy storage technologies. The development of long-term energy storage faces formidable challenges that necessitate urgent attention and innovation.
3. Long-term energy storage elements: achieving decoupling of capacity and power
Advantages and Limitations of Current Long-Term Energy Storage Technologies
In the realm of long-term energy storage, the predominant technologies – pumped storage, compressed air, and lithium-ion batteries – each present distinct strengths and constraints.
Pumped Storage Technology
- Advantages: Utilizes water as an energy carrier, excelling in power and capacity decoupling, boasting high efficiency and longevity.
- Limitations: Geographically constrained by water source availability and elevation differentials.
Compressed Air Energy Storage
- Advantages: Employs fluid as an energy carrier, offering flexible capacity expansion suitable for long-term storage.
- Limitations: Low efficiency, necessitates substantial space or specific geological formations for high-pressure air storage.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
- Advantages: Not restricted by geographical location, characterized by high energy density.
- Limitations: Capacity expansion incurs cost and safety concerns due to solid energy carriers, with restricted duration capabilities.
The Rise of Fluid Battery Systems
To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, fluid battery systems have emerged as a promising solution for long-term energy storage.
- Operating Principle: These systems leverage flowable energy carriers like hydrogen, methanol, ammonia, or electrolytes, coupled with energy conversion mechanisms such as fuel cells or electrolyzers to decouple energy and power.
- Advantages: Offers flexibility in duration, straightforward expansion capabilities, and high site selection adaptability.
- Future Outlook: Positioned as a versatile and core solution for long-term energy storage, fluid battery systems are poised to revolutionize the energy storage landscape with their potential for scalability and efficiency.
4. Advantages and technological breakthroughs of flow batteries
Flow Batteries: Revolutionizing Energy Storage
Unique Characteristics of Flow Batteries
Flow batteries stand apart from traditional lithium-based counterparts by independently managing energy and power through distinct components, yielding the benefits of capacity and power decoupling.
Advantages of Flow Batteries
- Safety and Durability: Leveraging water-based materials to mitigate fire risks, making them ideal for high-safety environments.
- Flexibility and Longevity: Capacity for diverse applications due to decoupling, coupled with a cycle life exceeding 22,000 cycles, surpassing conventional storage technologies.
Technological Innovations
- Diaphragm Optimization: Ensuring a balance of ionic conductivity and selectivity for enhanced performance.
- Electrode Material Activity: Boosting reactivity for swift electrochemical reactions.
- Electrode Structure Design: Facilitating rapid reactions with minimal energy consumption.
Economic Viability
- Cost Efficiency: Anticipated cost reductions through increased current density and enhanced electrolyte efficiency.
- Recyclable Materials: Recyclability of flow battery electrolytes contributes to lifecycle cost reduction.
Future Prospects in Energy Storage
With their emphasis on safety, longevity, and cost competitiveness, flow batteries are poised to play a vital role in large-scale energy storage facilities, emerging as a robust alternative to conventional options like pumped storage and lithium batteries. Ongoing advancements in flow battery technology are set to cement their significance in the evolving energy storage landscape.
5. Summary
In the past 20 years, the development of new energy technology in our country, mainly in photovoltaics and wind turbines, has made rapid progress and is leading the world. This is a very exciting thing. At the same time, it must be noted that the high-quality development of new energy is inseparable from energy storage. The current energy storage technology is lagging behind, so energy storage technology must be developed so that we can have the confidence to move towards the era of carbon neutrality. Thank you!
More Learn:Advanced Materials for Energy Storage – Liu – 2010 – Advanced Materials – Wiley Online Library
