Integration of storage technology oversight: power system and computer engineering analogy

Abstract

Energy storage, analogous to data storage in a computer system, is one of the enabling technologies that has emerged alongside the widespread use of renewable energy sources in the nation's power grid. This article shows that the underlying platforms for storing data and energy are quite similar. Batteries and hydrogen storage offer significant energy potential, much like a hard disk for storing vast amounts of data in a computer's central processing unit (CPU). A supercapacitor or flywheel storage device can be used to have emergency power on hand, with access times as fast as random access memory (RAM) in modern computers. In this study, we propose an energy-control scheme for caches that is akin to computer engineering and is used to coordinate the operation of multilevel storage systems that incorporate both capacity and access-oriented storage. By supporting the energy-management system, which in turn provides modern plug-and-play functionality, cache energy control helps optimise the system as a whole. Such an integrated system calls for renewable energy generation, local loads, fueling stations, and connections to gas and electric distribution grids. Distribution energy concepts with various storage systems can be easily grasped by drawing parallels between computer engineering and power system integration.