How do energy storage batteries work?

Currently most energy storage batteries are conventional lithium-ion technology. But Highview Power uses energy to compress and cool air to minus 190 degrees centigrade until it liquefies. Stored in insulated tanks the liquid air is then reheated, creating a high pressure gas that is used to drive turbines to generate electricity.

What are the hazards of a battery energy storage system?

AS/NZS 5139 identifies several hazards for a battery energy storage system (BESS): electrical hazards, energy hazards, mechanical hazards, chemical hazards, fire hazards, explosive hazards, and toxic fume hazards.

How does a battery work?

Inside a battery, this energy is stored in the chemical bonds of the materials in its electrodes. The trick is to design a system where these materials can undergo reactions that release this energy in a controlled way—specifically, through the movement of electrons from one place to another. And therein lies the genius of the battery.

How does charging a battery work?

Charging a battery is essentially running the redox reactions in reverse. An external power source pushes electrons back into the anode and pulls them from the cathode. At the same time, ions in the electrolyte move in the opposite direction, restoring the original chemical composition. This requires precise voltage control.

What makes a battery unique?

Batteries are unique because they store energy chemically, not mechanically or thermally. This stored chemical energy is potential energy—energy waiting to be unleashed. Inside a battery, this energy is stored in the chemical bonds of the materials in its electrodes.

What happens at the atomic level in a battery?

At the atomic level, the process begins with redox reactions—short for reduction and oxidation. Oxidation occurs when a substance loses electrons, while reduction occurs when a substance gains electrons. In a battery, the anode is where oxidation happens: electrons are stripped away from atoms.