RENEWCONNECT - All about renewables & power sector

Energy storage technologies play a critical role in modern energy systems by storing energy for later use, thereby balancing supply and demand, improving grid reliability, integrating renewable energy, and enhancing energy efficiency. Below is an overview of key energy storage technologies and their utilizations: 1. Mechanical Energy Storage a. Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS) Technology : Water is pumped to a higher elevation during low demand and released to generate electricity during high demand. Utilizations : Grid load balancing Long-duration energy storage Peak shaving and energy arbitrage b. Flywheel Energy Storage Technology : Stores energy in the form of rotational kinetic energy using a spinning rotor. Utilizations : Short-term power backup Frequency regulation Stabilization of microgrids c. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Technology : Compresses air and stores it in underground caverns; releases it to drive turbines when needed. ...

Solar energy has emerged as one of the most sustainable solutions to meet the growing energy demand while reducing carbon emissions. Continuous advancements in solar module efficiency and technological developments have significantly enhanced the performance, affordability, and adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. 1. Evolution of Solar Module Efficiency Over the years, solar module efficiency has seen remarkable improvements due to research and development in photovoltaic technologies. The key efficiency advancements include: First-Generation Solar Cells (Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline Silicon): Monocrystalline silicon cells have reached efficiencies of 24-26% in laboratory conditions and 19-22% in commercial modules. Polycrystalline silicon cells, though less efficient, have improved to around 16-19% efficiency. Second-Generation Solar Cells (Thin-Film Technologies): Cadmium Telluride (CdTe): Has achieved efficiencies of around 22% in research settings. Copper Indi...