What are the three types of energy storage?

Mechanical Energy Storage: This method involves converting electrical energy into mechanical energy for storage. Examples include pumped hydroelectric storage, where water is pumped uphill to a reservoir during periods of low demand and released downhill to generate electricity during high demand

The three main types of energy storage are:

1. Mechanical Energy Storage: This method involves converting electrical energy into mechanical energy for storage. Examples include pumped hydroelectric storage, where water is pumped uphill to a reservoir during periods of low demand and released downhill to generate electricity during high demand, and compressed air energy storage (CAES), which compresses air using excess electricity and stores it in underground reservoirs to later release and generate electricity.

2. Chemical Energy Storage: This type of storage involves storing energy in the form of chemical bonds. Batteries are a common example, such as lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. Hydrogen storage is another form of chemical energy storage, where surplus electricity is used to electrolyze water, producing hydrogen gas that can be stored and later converted back into electricity through fuel cells.

3. Thermal Energy Storage: Thermal energy storage captures and stores heat for later use. This can be achieved through various methods, including sensible heat storage, latent heat storage, and thermochemical storage. Common examples include storing heat in molten salts or phase change materials (PCMs) for use in heating buildings, generating electricity, or powering industrial processes. Thermal energy storage systems can help balance energy demand and supply, especially in applications like solar power, where energy generation is intermittent.