Editing Energy storage (section)

== History ==
In the 20th century grid, electrical power was largely generated by burning fossil fuel. When less power was required, less fuel was burned.<ref name="IEEE2019"/> [[Hydropower]], a mechanical energy storage method, is the most widely adopted mechanical energy storage, and has been in use for centuries. Large hydropower [[dam]]s have been energy storage sites for more than one hundred years.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hittinger|first1=Eric|last2=Ciez|first2=Rebecca E.|date=2020-10-17|title=Modeling Costs and Benefits of Energy Storage Systems|journal=Annual Review of Environment and Resources|language=en|volume=45|issue=1|pages=445–469|doi=10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-082101|doi-access=free|issn=1543-5938}}</ref> Concerns with air pollution, energy imports, and [[Climate change|global warming]] have spawned the growth of renewable energy such as solar and wind power.<ref name="IEEE2019">{{cite book | chapter=Optimizing microgrid using demand response and electric vehicles connection to microgrid | date=2019-07-30 | doi=10.1109/SGC.2017.8308873 | isbn=978-1-5386-4279-5 | title=2017 Smart Grid Conference (SGC) | last1=Liasi | first1=Sahand Ghaseminejad | last2=Bathaee | first2=Seyed Mohammad Taghi | pages=1–7 | s2cid=3817521 }}</ref> Wind power is uncontrolled and may be generating at a time when no additional power is needed. [[Solar power]] varies with cloud cover and at best is only available during daylight hours, while demand often peaks after sunset (''see'' [[duck curve]]). Interest in storing power from these intermittent sources grows as the [[renewable energy industry]] begins to generate a larger fraction of overall energy consumption.<ref name="Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2017 pp. 292–312">{{cite journal | title=Power to Gas projects review: Lab, pilot and demo plants for storing renewable energy and CO2 | journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | volume=69 | date=2017-03-01 | issn=1364-0321 | doi=10.1016/j.rser.2016.11.130 | pages=292–312 | last1=Bailera | first1=Manuel | last2=Lisbona | first2=Pilar | last3=Romeo | first3=Luis M. | last4=Espatolero | first4=Sergio | url=http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/75731 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310124229/http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/75731 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2020-03-10 }}</ref> In 2023 BloombergNEF forecast total energy storage deployments to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 27 percent through 2030.<ref name="BloombergNEF">{{cite web |title=BloombergNEF |url=https://www.energy-storage.news/worlds-energy-storage-capacity-forecast-to-exceed-a-terawatt-hour-by-2030/#:~:text=In%20BloombergNEF's%202H%202023%20Energy,reach%201.6TWh%20by%202030. |website=Energy Storage News| date=October 18, 2023 }}</ref>

[[Off-the-grid|Off grid electrical]] use was a niche market in the 20th century, but in the 21st century, it has expanded. Portable devices are in use all over the world. Solar panels are now common in the rural settings worldwide. Access to electricity is now a question of economics and financial viability, and not solely on technical aspects. [[Electric vehicles]] are gradually replacing combustion-engine vehicles. However, powering long-distance transportation without burning fuel remains in development.