Energy Storage Systems: A Comparison of Different Technologies and Possible Application in Sicily

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable and reliable energy sources necessitates advancements in energy storage technologies. In the light of a better integration of renew-able energies, communities promoting self-consumption such as renewable energy communities are being developing all over the world. In these communities, energy storage becomes of paramount importance to allow differing in time energy production and consumption. This paper reviews the current state of various energy storage technologies, examining their principles of operation, advantages, limitations, and potential for future development. Technologies covered include electro-chemical batteries, supercapacitors, flywheels, compressed air energy storage, pumped hydroelectric storage, and emerging technologies such as hydrogen-based energy storage and super-conductive magnetic energy storage. Moreover, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of each technology's role in the evolving energy landscape and propose a new concept of technology for electrical energy storage based on the resources locally available. This kind of technology might greatly help the development of energy communities based on realities characterized by water scarcity.