Energy Storage – A New Approach, Second Edition

A revision of the groundbreaking study of methods for storing energy on a massive scale to be used in wind, solar, and other renewable energy systems.

This new revision of an instant classic presents practical solutions to the problem of energy storage on a massive scale. This problem is especially difficult for renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar power, that, currently, can only be utilized while the wind is blowing or while the sun is shining. If energy storage on a large scale were possible, this would solve many of our society's problems. For example, power grids would not go down during peak usage. Power plants that run on natural gas, for example, would no longer burn natural gas during the off-hours, as what happens now. These are just two of society's huge problems that could be solved with this new technology.

This new edition includes new sections on energy problems related to increasing population and greenhouse effects, in the first chapter, and an expanded overview of energy storage types. Chapter two has been significantly expanded to provide further discussions of the fundamentals of energy and new sections on elastic, electrical, chemical, and thermal energy. A new chapter has been added on electrolytes and membranes with emphasis on batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells. Six new sections have also been added on the future of energy storage including flexible and stretchable devices in the final chapter.

This is a potentially revolutionary book insofar as technical books can be "revolutionary." The technologies that are described have their roots in basic chemistry that engineers have been practicing for years, but this is all new material that could revolutionize the energy industry. Whether the power is generated from oil, natural gas, coal, solar, wind, or any of the other emerging sources, energy storage is something that the industry must learn and practice. With the world energy demand increasing, mostly due to the industrial growth in China and India, and with the West becoming increasingly more interested in fuel efficiency and "green" endeavors, energy storage is potentially a key technology in our energy future.

This revision of a critically acclaimed scientific classic adds:

• New sections on energy problems due to the increasing population and greenhouse effects
• An expanded overview of energy storage types
• Expanded discussion of the fundamentals of energy
• New sections on elastic, electrical, chemical, and thermal energy
• New chapter on electrolytes and membranes
• A new section on the future of energy storage