Analysis of Selecting an Active Mechanical Energy Storage System for Household Power Supply

Energy storage, regardless of its form, always involves some degree of loss. Therefore, it is most beneficial to generate only as much energy as is required to meet demand. Such a situation in energy systems is very rare and typically lasts for a very short period of time. These are usually transitional states. As a result, the use of energy storage systems is necessary. The issue of grid destabilization becomes particularly important with the use of renewable energy sourced from micro photovoltaic installations and small-scale wind turbines. The high variability in the amount of energy produced often necessitates the automatic disconnection of the installation from the power grid, which results in a reduction in the amount of energy generated. Therefore, energy storage systems are essential to improve the cooperation of micro-installations with the grid. Currently, there are many energy storage solutions available on the market for this purpose, but chemical storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries are most commonly used. These are relatively expensive solutions considering their operational lifespan. Mechanical storage systems offer greater durability; however, their performance characteristics are closely tied to their geometric dimensions. In this context, this article analyzes the operational requirements of an energy system within a household environment and evaluates the size of the necessary mechanical energy storage system.