Energy storage is the capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time. A device that stores energy is generally called an accumulator or battery. Energy comes in multiple forms including radiation, chemical, gravitational potential, electrical potential, electricity, elevated temperature, latent heat and kinetic.
Energy storage involves converting energy from forms that are difficult to store to more conveniently or economically storable forms. Clays and their manufactured composite form “ceramics” have provided man centuries of reliable distributed energy. Probably the most well-known application that comes to mind is a porcelain spark plug.
Around 90 percent of the California electrical power grid is generated on California soils from the burining of fossil fuels. When less power is needed, less fuel is burned. Air pollution, energy imports (liquid oil fuel) and climate change have spawned the growth of renewable energy such as solar and wind power in California. Technology and innovation is rapidly growing to harness renewable energy sources and store what isn’t immediately used. Off-grid electrical use, primarily a niche market of the twentieth century is now for California part of the mainstream plan for future development throughout the remainder of the 21st century. Access to solar derived electricity is just a matter of design and planning not location. Minerals play an ever increasing role in the storage, transmission, and use of all fuel sources. Composites made of inorganic plastics containing little or no carbon are the lifeblood of clean and green economy.
Follow our product market trends at www.energycentral.com (under distributed and storage technologies)