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Comparing Electrical Energy Storage Technologies Regarding Their Material and Carbon Footprint

Author

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  • Clemens Mostert

    (Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel, 34117 Kassel, Germany)

  • Berit Ostrander

    (Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel, 34117 Kassel, Germany)

  • Stefan Bringezu

    (Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel, 34117 Kassel, Germany)

  • Tanja Manuela Kneiske

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology, 34119 Kassel, Germany)

Abstract

The need for electrical energy storage technologies (EEST) in a future energy system, based on volatile renewable energy sources is widely accepted. The still open question is which technology should be used, in particular in such applications where the implementation of different storage technologies would be possible. In this study, eight different EEST were analysed. The comparative life cycle assessment focused on the storage of electrical excess energy from a renewable energy power plant. The considered EEST were lead-acid, lithium-ion, sodium-sulphur, vanadium redox flow and stationary second-life batteries. In addition, two power-to-gas plants storing synthetic natural gas and hydrogen in the gas grid and a new underwater compressed air energy storage were analysed. The material footprint was determined by calculating the raw material input RMI and the total material requirement TMR and the carbon footprint by calculating the global warming impact GWI . All indicators were normalised per energy fed-out based on a unified energy fed-in. The results show that the second-life battery has the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and material use, followed by the lithium-ion battery and the underwater compressed air energy storage. Therefore, these three technologies are preferred options compared to the remaining five technologies with respect to the underlying assumptions of the study. The production phase accounts for the highest share of GHG emissions and material use for nearly all EEST. The results of a sensitivity analysis show that lifetime and storage capacity have a comparable high influence on the footprints. The GHG emissions and the material use of the power-to-gas technologies, the vanadium redox flow battery as well as the underwater compressed air energy storage decline strongly with increased storage capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Clemens Mostert & Berit Ostrander & Stefan Bringezu & Tanja Manuela Kneiske, 2018. "Comparing Electrical Energy Storage Technologies Regarding Their Material and Carbon Footprint," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-25, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:12:p:3386-:d:187490
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wang, Zhiwen & Xiong, Wei & Ting, David S.-K. & Carriveau, Rupp & Wang, Zuwen, 2016. "Conventional and advanced exergy analyses of an underwater compressed air energy storage system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 810-822.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Lechón, Yolanda & Lago, Carmen & Herrera, Israel & Gamarra, Ana Rosa & Pérula, Alberto, 2023. "Carbon benefits of different energy storage alternative end uses. Application to the Spanish case," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    4. Clemens Mostert & Stefan Bringezu, 2019. "Measuring Product Material Footprint as New Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method: Indicators and Abiotic Characterization Factors," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Giovanni Andrés Quintana-Pedraza & Sara Cristina Vieira-Agudelo & Nicolás Muñoz-Galeano, 2019. "A Cradle-to-Grave Multi-Pronged Methodology to Obtain the Carbon Footprint of Electro-Intensive Power Electronic Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-16, August.
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    7. Min Shang & Ji Luo, 2021. "The Tapio Decoupling Principle and Key Strategies for Changing Factors of Chinese Urban Carbon Footprint Based on Cloud Computing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-17, February.

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