Mechanical non-electrical energy storage system

Mechanical energy storage devices are systems that capture energy in mechanical form for later use, using various methods such as gravitational potential, kinetic energy, or elastic deformation. These devices include technologies like pumped hydroelectric storage, flywheels, and compressed air energy storage. 1.

Mechanical storage systems work on the basis of storing available and off-peak excessive electricity in the form of mechanical energy. Once the demand for electricity power overcome the available energy supply, the stored energy would be release to meet with the energy demand.

Mechanical energy storage systems (MESS), which store energy to be released again in the form of mechanical energy, offer several advantages compared to other ESSs: lower environmental impact, lower levelized energy costs and greater sustainability.

Mechanical energy storage can be classified into three major types: Compressed air storage, Flywheel Storage and Pumped Storage. But since pumped storage is the only mechanical type using water as its storage medium, this paper is solely focused on this technology.

Mechanical energy storage operates through various physical principles that allow energy to be stored and converted back into usable power. For instance, pumped hydro systems function by converting electrical energy into gravitational potential energy.

The use of ESS is crucial for improving system stability, boosting penetration of renewable energy, and conserving energy. Electricity storage systems (ESSs) come in a variety of forms, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, and electrochemical ones.