Energy Storage Technologies for Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Among various renewable energy resources, solar energy has gained tremendous attention for future energy because of its cleanliness, availability and environmental friendliness. Many countries around the globe are intensely considering solar energy technologies for their future energy expansion. The major disadvantage for use of solar technology is its intermittent and unpredictable nature. This influence the power quality and consistency of the power grid, particularly at large-scale solar energy systems. Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaic (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power. The variation of sun light may lead to over-production of electricity at one time and lack of production at another time. The variable nature of solar power causes significant challenges for the electric grid operators. To smooth out the intermittency of solar energy production, electrical energy storage technology will become necessary. In order to increase the solar energy penetration with appropriate reliability, this chapter presents a range of energy storage systems that could technically and economically be used in association with solar photovoltaic energy