A comparative sustainability assessment of several grid energy storage technologies

IF 10.1 1区工程技术 Q1 ENERGY & FUELS

Applied Energy Pub Date : 2025-06-13 DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126248

Roque Aguado Molina , Juan José Cartelle Barros , María del Pilar de la Cruz López , Manuel Lara Coira , Alfredo del Caño Gochi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The global energy transition toward a low-carbon economy is driving increasing penetration of variable energy sources into electricity markets. This unprecedented deployment of intermittent renewables confronts decision-makers in the electricity sector with the challenge of selecting among different energy storage technologies, a choice that must be made on the basis of sustainability criteria. Existing studies present shortcomings, including the absence of the social dimension, the use of weights against sustainable development, or the application of methodologies affected by the rank reversal issue, among others. To address gaps in current knowledge, this study presents a novel probabilistic model for assessing the global sustainability of grid energy storage technologies. The model is based on the MIVES (Modelo Integrado de Valor para una Evaluación Sostenible)–Monte Carlo method, which combines requirement trees, value functions, the analytic hierarchy process, and probabilistic simulations. It consists of 19 indicators and makes it possible to obtain a sustainability index (SI), as well as partial economic, social, environmental, and technical indices for each technology. Data from an extensive literature review were integrated with expert input and estimations based on linear correlations to address challenges in assessing social and environmental indicators. The model was applied to six technologies: pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), compressed air energy storage (CAES), liquid air energy storage (LAES), vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), sodium-sulfur batteries (NaSB), and hydrogen energy storage (HES). A comprehensive sensitivity analysis is also included. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no existing study has utilized the innovative methodology presented in this paper, nor has any related research achieved the scope and depth proposed here. The top-performing technologies identified for the economic, social, environmental, and technical dimensions of sustainability are CAES, VRFB, LAES, and PHES, respectively. In terms of global sustainability, VRFB, LAES and PHES are the best options, while HES consistently ranks last. NaSB and CAES occupy intermediate positions.

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几种电网储能技术的可持续性比较评估

向低碳经济的全球能源转型正在推动可变能源越来越多地渗透到电力市场。这种前所未有的间歇性可再生能源的部署使电力部门的决策者面临着在不同的储能技术中进行选择的挑战，这一选择必须基于可持续性标准。现有的研究有缺点，包括缺乏社会方面，对可持续发展使用权重，或应用受等级反转问题影响的方法等。为了解决当前知识的空白，本研究提出了一种新的概率模型来评估电网储能技术的全球可持续性。该模型基于MIVES (Modelo Integrado de Valor para una Evaluación Sostenible) -Monte Carlo方法，该方法结合了需求树、值函数、层次分析法和概率模拟。它由19个指标组成，可以获得可持续性指数（SI），以及每种技术的部分经济、社会、环境和技术指标。从广泛的文献综述中获得的数据与基于线性相关性的专家输入和估计相结合，以解决评估社会和环境指标的挑战。该模型应用于抽水蓄能（PHES）、压缩空气蓄能（CAES）、液态空气蓄能（LAES）、钒氧化还原液流电池（VRFB）、钠硫电池（NaSB）和氢蓄能（HES）六种技术。还包括全面的敏感性分析。据作者所知，目前还没有研究采用本文所提出的创新方法，也没有相关研究达到本文所提出的范围和深度。在可持续发展的经济、社会、环境和技术方面，表现最好的技术分别是CAES、VRFB、LAES和PHES。就全球可持续性而言，VRFB、LAES和PHES是最佳选择，而HES一直排在最后。NaSB和CAES处于中间位置。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Energy 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

21.20

自引率

10.70%

发文量

1830

审稿时长

41 days

期刊介绍： Applied Energy serves as a platform for sharing innovations, research, development, and demonstrations in energy conversion, conservation, and sustainable energy systems. The journal covers topics such as optimal energy resource use, environmental pollutant mitigation, and energy process analysis. It welcomes original papers, review articles, technical notes, and letters to the editor. Authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts that bridge the gap between research, development, and implementation. The journal addresses a wide spectrum of topics, including fossil and renewable energy technologies, energy economics, and environmental impacts. Applied Energy also explores modeling and forecasting, conservation strategies, and the social and economic implications of energy policies, including climate change mitigation. It is complemented by the open-access journal Advances in Applied Energy.