🌍 The Future of Energy Storage – Overview, Evaluation & Decision-Making Tools

1. How much Energy-Storage do we actually need, when we need it, which opportunities does nature grant, in the existing and possibly continually developing world?

If there were future technologies, like a globally stretching energy-net with trust in other decision-makers, efficient and purpose-fitting organisation, people executing their personally fulfilling lives and not giving in to permanent short-term thinking... etc... how well could we all be off/doing?

And how much if that's not (yet) the case? For example from the point we are currently at.



• Intermittent nature of renewables (e.g. solar and wind)
• Ensuring supply security: electricity, heating, mobility, industry
• Matching energy demand and supply
• Key to climate neutrality and grid stability

2. What Types of Energy Storage Technologies Exist?

A) Electrical Storage

• Lithium-ion batteries
• Sodium-ion batteries
• Redox flow batteries
• Supercapacitors

B) Thermal Storage

• Sensible heat storage (e.g. water tanks)
• Latent heat storage (e.g. phase change materials)
• Thermochemical storage

C) Mechanical Storage

• Pumped hydro storage
• Compressed air energy storage (CAES)
• Flywheels

D) Chemical Storage

• Hydrogen (via electrolysis, reconversion)
• Methanation / Power-to-Gas
• Ammonia as energy carrier
• Synthetic fuels