Understand how batteries, pumped hydro, air, flywheels, capacitors, thermal and hydrogen storage work. Compare service boundaries, site constraints and lifecycle evidence before choosing an architecture.
This centre covers electrochemical, mechanical, electrical, thermal and chemical storage. The three existing lessons, evidence checklist and procurement calculator specifically address stationary batteries. Microgrid dispatch and VPP participation remain linked to their existing topic paths.
Start with the principles and selection of batteries, pumped hydro, compressed/liquid air, flywheels, capacitors, heat and hydrogen. Training contains nine lessons; the three original lessons and procurement tool form a battery-specific path.
Read the full technical chapter and casesData centres, VPP, energy storage and heat–power each offer nine lessons in three modules. The three lessons in each first module are free. Modules two and three are included in monthly and annual Intelligence membership, with technical explanations, figures, engineering cases, exercises and worked answers: 24 member lessons across four topics.
The existing price remains US$19.90 monthly or US$199 annually. One subscription includes all four topics; active members do not buy courses separately. Knowledge libraries, technology overviews, existing topic calculators, data checklists and self-service diagnostics remain free.
Member lessons are available during an active subscription. Topic courses are currently in English and Simplified Chinese. Custom project analysis, design review and personal consulting require a separate scope and quotation; they are not included in the subscription.
This pathway contains three modules and nine lessons. Each includes technical explanations, a diagram, a teaching case, independent exercises and worked answers. Complete each module output before progressing; existing battery lesson URLs are preserved.
Module output: Prepare a service specification and distinguish energy, machine power, site resources and charging constraints.
A storage project buys a time-dependent service, rather than an inventory alone. Specify the net power at a named meter, uninterrupted duration, response delay, recovery window and protected reserve. Heating, cooling and electrical backup are different services even when all quantities are expressed in MWh.
Reservoir hydro uses natural inflow; pumped storage consumes electricity to restore water elevation. A combined plant may do both, but its natural-inflow generation is not energy recovered from charging. Define upper and lower operating levels, usable volume, pumping intake and generation outlet before calculating storage.
Compressed air inventory is defined by pressure, temperature, mass and the allowed operating window. A pressure vessel volume alone is not usable electricity. Compression releases heat; expansion cools the gas. The heat balance and minimum pressure determine how much electricity can be returned.
Module output: Prepare a common AC duty, warranty comparison and acceptance evidence register.
A storage quotation often lists MW and MWh together, but they answer different questions. This lesson follows energy from the cell to the service meter and separates component ratings from a whole-system operating promise. You will build a duty sheet before deciding whether a battery is large enough.
A low price and a long warranty can conceal incompatible service boundaries. This lesson turns a quotation into a traceable set of promises and tests calendar limits against the energy the owner actually plans to deliver.
A factory test, a commissioning record and a reliable operating service cover different parts of the evidence chain. This lesson develops a practical handover method: define the claim, specify the test and preserve the configuration, limitations and responsible party.
Module output: Prepare separate service ledgers and a justified technology or hybrid shortlist with unresolved actions.
Fictional paired duties: 2 MW for 15 seconds, and 1 MW for 24 hours. A hydrogen route uses 33.3 kWh/kg LHV, 50% net electrical conversion and 50 kWh/kg electrolysis electricity, excluding compression.
Fictional island: electrical critical load 0.5 MW for four hours and useful heat 2 MW_th for six hours. A tank advertises 12 MWh_th. A battery has 2 MWh usable AC but no validated transfer-time evidence.
Fictional six-hour duty: 5 MW net AC. Hydro offers 23.1625 MWh AC and a 5 MW output limit. Battery offers 32 MWh usable AC but a 4 MW converter limit. A proposed hybrid has no agreed dispatch or network evidence.
Reviewed 26 October 2026. Text, diagrams and exercises are original. All numerical cases use stated teaching assumptions, rather than site measurements or manufacturer commitments. These primary sources support the technical background; verify their applicability to each project.
[S1] DOE FEMP · BESS Procurement Checklist ↗
Early procurement questions and scope.
[S2] DOE FEMP · Lithium-ion BESS Technical Specifications ↗
Customisable procurement template, not a local approval.
[S3] DOE · Energy Storage Safety Strategic Plan ↗
Lifecycle safety research and deployment context.
[S4] Sandia · Energy Storage Safety and Reliability ↗
Testing, failure and degradation background.