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Solar
Storage
The
peak power output of many renewable energy systems (wind,
photovoltaic) does not occur when the energy is most needed
and therefore a method for storing this energy becomes an
integral and necessary part of the solar power system. Lead
acid batteries are the most commonly used storage system at
this time, but development is underway on more efficient storage
systems, such as zinc-bromine and lithium-ion batteries, ultra-capacitor
modules, flywheels, and hydrogen fuel cells. Solar thermal
facilities that also generate peak power at times that do
not coincide with peak demand require a different storage
strategy because heat is being stored. Typically thermal solar
facilities store the excess heat in molten salt in tubes or
tanks. Energy storage systems are, therefore, an integral
part of the highest efficiency renewable energy generating
facilities.
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