“When it comes to renewable energy sources, there can be a mismatch between when power is available and when it’s needed,” says GT-AE Professor Tim Lieuwen, director of Georgia Tech’s Strategic Energy Institute (SEI).

He points to grid faults caused by temporary loss of wind and solar power during the day.

“In contrast to conventional power plants where you can turn power on, off, up or down, you can’t dispatch solar or wind — storage is a key enabler for significant penetration of these non-dispatchable sources,” Lieuwen said.

Researchers have made significant strides in new energy generation technologies. Yet, before renewable sources can make a significant contribution to our energy supply, Lieuwen and his colleagues believe similar strides will be needed in energy storage, making it the new holy grail. Read more in GT'sResearch Horizons magazine