How To Store Solar Energy From Solar Panels?

Solar energy storage broadly falls into three categories: battery, thermal, and mechanical. Here are some solar energy storage solutions.

Battery Storage 

Various battery types are used in solar power storage, including lead-acid, lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, and flow batteries. Lithium-ion batteries, prevalent in smartphones and computers, stand out. Understanding how they function generally highlights their role in solar battery storage.

Consider your phone or computer, both powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These batteries comprise three components: a positive cathode, a negative anode, and an electrolyte layer facilitating electron flow between them.

Charging begins when electrons are introduced to the anode as devices are plugged in. These electrons attract lithium ions from the cathode, charging the battery. Unplugging disconnects the electrons, prompting the lithium ions to release electrons, creating a circuit that powers your device.

Solar charging parallels this process with additional considerations. Photovoltaic solar, utilizing solar panels, generates electricity. Sunlight produces photons that, when striking a solar panel, dislodge electrons. 

These electrons and resulting holes shift to opposite sides due to electric charge. The liberated electrons form a circuit, generating an electrical current to harness solar energy for storage.

Thermal Storage

Thermal energy storage harnesses the potential of various mediums, including water or molten salt, to efficiently absorb and retain heat from solar sources. The process involves capturing solar energy during periods of abundance and storing it for later use. Typically, this stored heat becomes invaluable when there’s an energy demand, commonly used to facilitate the boiling of water for power generation.

Consider a practical example of thermal energy storage using molten salt. Concentrated solar power systems can focus sunlight on a molten salt receiver during peak sunlight hours. 

This salt absorbs and stores the intense heat. Later, when electricity is needed, the stored heat is utilized to produce steam, subsequently driving turbines to generate electricity. This exemplifies how thermal energy storage addresses the intermittent nature of solar power and enhances its reliability for a consistent energy supply.

Mechanical storage

Mechanical energy storage taps into the potential energy of objects to create electricity. This approach involves converting excess electrical power into mechanical power, which can be transformed back into electricity when needed. Three notable mechanical energy storage systems include:

1. Flywheel: This method employs surplus electricity to set a flywheel in motion. Later, during peak demand periods, the spinning flywheel generates electricity, providing a rapid energy supply.
2. Pumped Hydro: Water is pumped uphill to a reservoir above the turbine generators in this system. When electricity demand peaks, the stored water flows through turbines, generating electricity.
3. Compressed Air: In this storage system, air is compressed and pumped into substantial vessels, such as tanks or underground formations. When energy demand rises, the compressed air is released, driving turbines to produce electricity.

These mechanical energy storage systems play a crucial role in balancing energy supply and demand, offering a reliable means of storing and retrieving electricity as needed.