Energy security and energy storage technologies

Abstract

As the transition to a 100% renewable energy (RE) system is meant to enhance sustainability, energy security should be taken into consideration. Energy security is an important situation in which the system can function optimally and sustainably, free from risks and threat. Part of the energy security consideration is the discussion about different energy system elements. And one of the most important elements of the RE system is storage. The aim of this work is to analyse energy storage technologies from an energy security perspective. Different storage technologies are studied. The portfolio of the technologies include: Pump Hydro Storage (PHS), Thermal Energy Storage (TES), batteries, Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES), and bulk storage for gas and liquid (biogas, H2, CH4, CO2, O2, liquefied gases, biodiesel, synthetic fuels, etc.) relevant for the energy transition. The results show clearly that not all storage technologies obtain the same level of energy security; TES is considered to have the highest level of security, and then the other storage technologies come in order from the highest to the lowest: batteries, gas/liquid storage, PHS, and the least secure energy storage technology is A-CAES. The conclusion is that all storage technologies show a positive relationship with energy security and all increase energy security, albeit at different levels. Therefore, it is recommended that manufacturers, energy system planners and policy makers adopt and improve storage technologies based on the need and the security of the system.