Historical dimensions and directions on energy storage: unique perspectives

Energy storage has become a crucial technology solution in an era marked by the urgent need to transition towards sustainable energy systems with renewable sources and energy storage systems. It facilitates the widespread adoption of these sources and ensures the reliability and resilience of energy networks. This perspective article offers a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of energy storage technologies, their diverse applications, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, based on bibliographic data captured from the Scopus. The technological landscape of energy storage methods is examined, encompassing mechanical, heat, chemical, electrochemical, magnetic, and electromagnetic as potential short- and long-duration storage techniques. We discuss trend topics related to the diverse applications of energy storage, ranging from grid integration and electric vehicles to microgrids and ancillary services. Additionally, this study highlights critical research directions and technological advancements that can potentially transform the energy storage sector in the years ahead. This study further aims to provide a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion on achieving a sustainable, reliable, and decarbonized energy future by comprehending the various aspects and predicting the future trends of energy storage.