Integrated Energy Storage Systems for Enhanced Grid Efficiency: A Comprehensive Review of Technologies and Applications

Raphael I. Areola, Abayomi A. Adebiyi () and Katleho Moloi
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Raphael I. Areola: Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa
Abayomi A. Adebiyi: Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa
Katleho Moloi: Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4001, South Africa

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-37

Abstract: The rapid global shift toward renewable energy necessitates innovative solutions to address the intermittency and variability of solar and wind power. This study presents a comprehensive review and framework for deploying Integrated Energy Storage Systems (IESSs) to enhance grid efficiency and stability. By leveraging a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework, this study synthesizes techno-economic optimization, lifecycle emissions, and policy frameworks to evaluate storage technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, pumped hydro storage, and vanadium flow batteries. The framework prioritizes hybrid storage systems (e.g., battery–supercapacitor configurations), demonstrating 15% higher grid stability in high-renewable penetration scenarios, and validates findings through global case studies, including the Hornsdale Power Reserve (90–95% round-trip efficiency) and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (15,000+ cycles for flow batteries). Regionally tailored strategies, such as Kenya’s fast-track licensing and Germany’s H2Global auctions, reduce deployment timelines by 30–40%, while equity-focused policies like India’s SAUBHAGYA scheme cut energy poverty by 25%. This study emphasizes circular economy principles, advocating for mandates like the EU’s 70% lithium recovery target to reduce raw material costs by 40%. Despite reliance on static cost projections and evolving regulatory landscapes, the MCDA framework’s dynamic adaptation mechanisms, including sensitivity analysis for carbon taxes (USD 100/ton CO 2 -eq boosts hydrogen viability by 25%), ensure scalability across diverse grids. This work bridges critical gaps in renewable energy integration, offering actionable insights for policymakers and grid operators to achieve resilient, low-carbon energy systems.

Keywords: integrated energy storage systems; grid efficiency; renewable energy; hybrid storage; lithium-ion batteries; pumped hydro storage; grid management; sustainable energy solutions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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