High-energy electrochemical capacitors

The decarbonization of energy to meet the low-carbon energy strategy set for 2050 has led to a continuous increase in the contribution of electricity generated from renewables to our growing energy demands, where their inherent intermittency of supply must be addressed by a step-change in energy storage. Additionally, the nonstop emerging demands of modern technologies still require the design of versatile energy-storage/power supply systems, ensuring a secure and continuous supply of energy on a large scale with wide ranges of power and energy densities commensurate with each application. In the case of long-term power/energy demands, technologies such as batteries and fuel cells that are capable of storing large amounts of energy and releasing it over a longer period are needed, while, in short-term power needs and energy demands over the timescale of 0.1–100 s, technologies capable of delivering high power to flatten power outputs fluctuations and provide an energy surge in short discharge periods become imperative. Since there is no single energy storage technology to address this wide range of energy/power requirements simultaneously, a variety of storage technologies and systems composed of their combinations must be deployed.