ABSTRACT
Batteries are promising energy storage technologies for various power system applications because of their maturity and the ease with which they are designed and installed compared to other conventional energy storage technologies. The various requirements for battery power and the different environmental and electrical conditions under which they must operate necessitate the use of a number of different types of batteries and designs, each having the most advantageous performance under specific operational conditions. Although many advances have been made in battery technology in recent years, both through continued improvement of a specific electrochemical system and the development and introduction of new battery chemistries, there is still no one ‘ideal’ battery that performs optimally under all operating conditions. As a result, over time, many different electrochemical systems and battery types have been and are still being investigated and promoted. However, a relatively small number have achieved wide popularity and significant production and sales volumes. A number of factors must be considered in selecting the best battery for a particular application. It is important that the selection of the battery be considered at the beginning of equipment development rather than at the end when the hardware is fixed. In this way, the most effective compromises can be made between battery capabilities and equipment requirements. The chapter discusses selection criteria of batteries with improved cycling capacity, higher lifespan, and lower cost that can achieve lower environmental impacts for various future applications.
