Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The role of energy storage means is a key to face the future
energy challenges. An optimal energy management requires an
increasing efficiency in electricity production and distribution. The
present transmission and distribution systems are uniquely operated
from large power plants to consumers. Thus, electricity needs to be
used when produced. This situation is not generally achieved and
a misfit between demand and consumption is daily and seasonally
observed. It is commonly resolved by building overdesigned
and expensive plants that currently work under their maximum
capacity. Load leveling and peak shaving operations, using large
electricity reservoirs, would undoubtedly reduce the costs of energy
production. Power plant would be built to supply only sufficient
generating capacity to meet average electrical demand rather than
peak demands.
Perspectives for the world consumption of energy in its various
forms over the next 20 years forecast an overall growth of around 40%
[7]. To overcome oil scarcity and environmental degradation, energy
sustainability urges for the substitution of fossil fuels by renewable
sources and promotion of electric transport. Wind and solar
photovoltaic sources will increase their contributions to electricity
in the coming decades. The noncontinuous and even erratic energy
supply of natural forces makes necessary the availability of suitable
ways to store electricity. Facilities such as pumped-hydroelectric
and compressed air energy storages are more suitable to store large
amounts of energy. Nevertheless, the dependence on a geographical
location, delayed response, and long manufacturing time are the
nonnegligible drawbacks that must be considered.
The potential significance of lithium batteries can be inferred
from the fact that a 1000 m
lithium battery system can store
400 MWh. This performance is comparable to a wind farm [8].
There are some attempts to produce large-scale Li-ion batteries.
Enterprises in Japan have produced 3 kW demonstration modules.
However, the high cost (>$600/kWh) precludes an extended
commercialization for grid management purposes [9].
Spreading the use of electric vehicles (EV) and/or hybrid electric
vehicles (HEV) is a long-pursued alternative to public and private
transport. Recent success in the market introduction of several car
models has prompted other manufacturers to increase the offers
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