# Managing Surplus Renewable Energy with Energy Storage Systems Source: https://ordergroup.co/blog/surplus-renewable-energy-storage/ Last updated: 2024-03-22 > Renewable energy now competes with traditional sources and more companies use it. The missing piece is efficient storage of surplus energy. ![Managing Surplus Renewable Energy with Energy Storage Systems](https://ordergroup.co/media/images/Molten_Salt_Batteries600_ZMtGQtZ_LQh9MpA.width-2850.format-webp.webp) Managing Surplus Renewable Energy with Energy Storage Systems [Aleksander Jess](https://ordergroup.co/authors/aleksander-jess/), Former Copywriter | March 21, 2024 | 5 min read Table of Contents The brief Managing Renewable Energy Through Storage Real-World Examples The Future: Solid State Batteries The Role of Government Support Summary The brief Renewable energy has finally hit the mark of being competitive with "traditional" energy sources. Energy production from green sources is getting more and more popular among enterprises. The missing piece is efficient energy storage. The sun will shine the brightest at noon but won't be there at midnight (unless you live very far up north in Sweden or Norway in the summer). We can't forcibly make the sun shine for longer or make the wind blow all the time, so what do you do? Managing Renewable Energy Through Storage As we already mentioned, one of the main disadvantages of [green energy](https://ordergroup.co/energy-hub/) is that the energy generation isn't consistent in the case of solar energy or wind energy, two of the most rapidly growing green [energy sources](https://ordergroup.co/energy-hub/) in the Nordic countries and around the world.So since we can't use the surplus energy during the day, what can we do with it? That's where batteries come in, and we don't mean AA or AAA ones. That's a job for more heavy-duty ones. Currently, we are looking at a few main approaches:**Pumped Hydro Storage.** It uses excess electricity to pump water uphill to a reservoir. When electricity demand is high, the water is released back down through turbines to generate power.**Hydrogen Storage.** This method uses surplus electricity to create hydrogen through electrolysis, which splits water molecules. The hydrogen can then be stored and later used in fuel cells to generate electricity or even blended into natural gas supplies.**Battery Storage.** Battery technology is constantly improving, and [large-scale battery storage facilities are becoming more common](https://ordergroup.co/energy-hub/). The new approach is to recycle old car batteries.**Compressed Air Storage.** This method uses excess electricity to compress air into underground caverns. When needed, the compressed air is released to drive turbines and generate electricity. The issue is to find appropriate geological formations for storage.**Hot Rock Storage.** In short, you heat up bricks and such using the cheapest six hours of electricity in any given day, and then the battery discharges over 18 hours.We know a thing or two about creating systems for batteries. We created such a system for Kyoto, one of our clients.Virtual Battery (VB)"Traditional" battery storage solutions have limitations, like finding space for large-scale facilities and [the environmental impact of new battery production.](https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-much-co2-emitted-manufacturing-batteries) **This is where Virtual Battery (VB) comes in.**VB is a software-based energy storage solution that coordinates and optimizes existing battery systems. Imagine a network where solar panels, wind turbines, and **even recycled electric car batteries** from various locations are united under the VB umbrella. This software manages these decentralized energy resources remotely and turns them into a single virtual power plant (VPP).VB does more than store energy: it balances energy supply and demand across the grid. This improves how energy is produced and used and makes the power grid more stable. We created a customized VB system for our client Kyoto, and VB can change energy management in the same way for any business or region. Real-World Examples Tesla's Hornsdale Power ReserveOne of the most notable examples of efficient energy storage in renewable energy is Tesla's Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia. Completed in 2017, it was the world's largest lithium-ion battery storage system at the time.At launch, the Hornsdale Power Reserve had a capacity of 129 MWh (expanded to 193.5 MWh in 2020) and can provide backup power to over 30,000 homes for up to an hour. It has helped stabilize the South Australian energy grid, which relies heavily on wind energy.One of the UK's First Large Battery Storage ProjectsLeighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, saw the completion of the UK's biggest battery storage initiative at the time in 2018. The UK Power Reserve developed this project, which has a 60 MWh capacity and the ability to provide backup power to more than 10,000 households for up to 60 minutes.Using lithium-ion batteries, the project is connected to the National Grid, which helps keep the UK's energy grid stable and supports the expansion of renewable energy resources.Kyoto[Kyotopia, a project we developed for Kyoto](https://ordergroup.co/case-studies/kyoto-digital-twin-software/), shows how digital twins can optimize renewable energy storage. Kyoto is a Norwegian startup that develops Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants.The initial concept involved a user-friendly interface to assess global renewable energy potential and facilitate CSP plant construction. [However, the project pivoted towards a more scalable solution](https://ordergroup.co/case-studies/kyoto-digital-twin-software/): thermal energy storage using molten salt batteries.We built a Battery Management System (BMS) based on SCADA technology. This industrial IoT solution included a secure AWS cloud infrastructure, a real-time flow monitoring dashboard, and a platform to simulate plant performance.The project was challenging because of its large scale, international collaboration, and changing concept. Agile methods helped us manage it.The project depended on a functional MVP and an efficient digital twin implementation. Our software supported the prototype Kyoto presented to investors. The Future: Solid State Batteries Regular lithium-ion batteries, the ones in your phone or laptop, rely on a liquid electrolyte to shuttle lithium ions between the anode and cathode. This liquid, while effective, has limitations. Solid-state batteries take a different approach, offering several potential advantages.How Are They Different?**Solid Electrolyte:** This is the main difference. Instead of a liquid, a solid material separates the anode and cathode. This solid electrolyte allows only lithium ions to pass through, preventing unwanted reactions and improving safety.**Electrodes:** Similar to lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries use an anode and cathode for storing and releasing energy. However, solid-state designs can potentially use different materials, like metallic lithium for the anode, which can hold more energy.Solid vs. Lithium-Ion Batteries: Key Differences**Safety**: Solid electrolytes are generally less flammable than liquid electrolytes, potentially reducing the risk of fires.**Energy Density**: Solid-state batteries have the potential to store more energy per unit weight or volume compared to lithium-ion batteries. This could translate to longer range for electric vehicles or smaller and lighter electronics.**Faster Charging**: Some solid-state battery designs may allow for faster charging times due to the properties of the solid electrolyte.**Durability**: Solid-state batteries might offer a longer lifespan and better tolerance for extreme temperatures compared to lithium-ion batteries. The Role of Government Support To keep developing and deploying efficient energy storage for renewable energy, we need government support. Incentives and subsidies can help drive investment in renewable energy and energy storage projects, making them more financially viable for companies and individuals.Nordic countries are already a prime region for investment in renewable energy storage. [Projects in Sweden and Finland are already underway, with 70 MW of projects planned in Sweden.](https://www.energy-storage.news/extremely-attractive-revenues-for-bess-in-nordics-as-sens-and-ilmatar-progress-sweden-projects/) Summary [To accelerate the green transition](https://ordergroup.co/energy-hub/), we need efficient energy storage systems.No matter how advanced or simple these energy storage systems are, they need proper software. You need to orchestrate multiple systems together, such as the generators themselves (wind turbines, solar farms), batteries, and even electric vehicles. These subsystems depend on one another, and you need an experienced team to put them all together. That's what we do.[Order Group has experience developing such systems; see our case study.](https://ordergroup.co/case-studies/kyoto-digital-twin-software/) Contact us today, and let's talk about your project. We want to help shape the future of the energy industry and contribute to the decarbonization of energy production. Let's work together and shape the future [Contact us](https://ordergroup.co/estimate-project/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=content_marketing) Explore this topic further Domain hub [Energy Hub](https://ordergroup.co/energy-hub/) Service [Custom Software Development](https://ordergroup.co/services/software-development/custom-software-development/) Case study [Skyfri - Solar & Battery Asset Management Platform](https://ordergroup.co/case-studies/skyfri-solar-asset-management-platform/) More articles about Energy [Energy | June 6, 2024 | 6 min read Energy Trading: Risks, Rewards, and the Future of Power Markets](https://ordergroup.co/blog/renewable-energy-trading-risks/) [Energy | March 21, 2024 | 4 min read Energy Distribution & Production. 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