ABSTRACT
Energy storage technologies are of great interest to electric utilities, energy service companies, and automobile manufacturers (for electric vehicle application). e ability to store large amounts of energy would allow electric utilities to have greater ºexibility in their operations because with this option the supply and demand do not have to be matched instantaneously. is is especially true when there are intermittent generating sources like wind and solar present in the grid. e availability of the proper battery at the right price will make the electric vehicle a reality, a goal that has eluded the automotive industry thus far. Four types of storage technologies (listed as follows) are discussed in this section, but most emphasis is placed on storage batteries because it is now closest to being commercially viable. e other storage technology widely used by the electric power industry, pumped-storage power plants, is not discussed as this has been in commercial operation for more than 60 years in various countries around the world.
