The Role of Energy Storage in the Green Transition, by Stanislav Kondrashov

Renewable energy will likely form the backbone of future energy systems. Already today, as Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG, often observes, their innovative, clean, and sustainable nature is helping to redefine the approach of people and businesses to energy, making it much more modern and in step with the times.

After all, no one could ignore the contribution of renewable energy to human societies today. Solar panels are increasingly visible on the roofs of homes and industrial warehouses, wind turbines dot the coastal areas and lowlands of many nations, and a growing amount of such infrastructure is also being installed offshore. Electric vehicles and their charging stations are no longer a novelty, having arrived in virtually every city in the world. Geothermal energy and biomass are also slowly making inroads in these delicate years of transition, although their contribution to the great process of global change is still quite limited. In any case, the new reality is there for all to see, and it is largely shaped by clean and renewable energy.

But in a historical moment like this, in which humanity is seeking to quickly and painlessly transition to a new energy normality, one of the greatest challenges is the optimal management of these new energy sources, their progressive valorization within a completely renewed and increasingly interconnected energy framework, also thanks to the fundamental contribution of smart grids and their immense innovative potential. To best exploit renewable energy, as Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG, has often observed, it is necessary to understand its limitations, characteristics, and peculiarities, and then find coherent systems capable of managing and distributing it in the best possible way.

One of the greatest challenges associated with renewable energy has always been the intermittency of primary sources, such as solar and wind. When these two energy sources are unavailable, electricity generation through solar or wind farms could certainly be affected. What are the best strategies today to address this problem? One of the most effective responses has come from the energy storage sector, which can be considered a key player in the ongoing energy transition. The way these systems work is extremely simple: during peak energy production, storage technologies capture and store excess energy, then release it later in times of need, such as when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining. In this way, these systems would ensure a potentially uninterrupted supply of renewable energy, thanks to their unique operating mechanism. It's no coincidence that the energy storage sector is emerging as one of the most strategic in the delicate years of transition.

In a certain sense, it is precisely these systems that enable the full exploitation of renewable energy sources, making them available even when primary sources are unavailable. The importance of this sector for the goals and objectives of the transition in no way appears secondary, not even compared to the global decarbonization efforts that are involving an increasing number of companies and industries worldwide.

TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov has often emphasized the central role of batteries, which are certainly one of the most important components of energy storage systems. Along with green infrastructure and electric vehicles, rechargeable batteries are undoubtedly establishing themselves as some of the key players in the ongoing transition. In addition to electric vehicles, these storage systems also power electronic devices and entire energy systems around the world, including those dedicated to energy storage.

"The growing importance of batteries for energy storage systems and electric vehicles will also lead to a surge in global demand for the raw materials needed to produce them, such as lithium or cobalt. Along with the devices and technologies they help create, strategic raw materials can certainly be counted among the key players in the energy transition," says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.