Hybrid Energy Storage Systems and Management Strategies
Summary
Hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) pair distinct storage technologies—typically high-energy devices such as lithium-ion batteries with high-power devices such as supercapacitors—to leverage their complementary characteristics. By combining long-duration energy buffering with rapid charge–discharge capability, HESS can smooth the variability of renewable sources, support grid frequency and voltage regulation, and prolong battery life. Key components include bidirectional power converters, shared DC buses and supervisory controllers that allocate power according to real-time demand and device state. Management strategies range from rule-based filters that split high-frequency and low-frequency components between devices to optimisation algorithms that adjust charge thresholds and dispatch schedules. Central challenges encompass accurate sizing of each storage element, design of stable converter topologies, and development of control laws that ensure safe operation under changing load and generation profiles. Globally, HESS underpins microgrid resilience, accelerates renewable integration in off-grid and urban systems, and enhances the performance of electric-vehicle drivetrains and renewable power plants.
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Hybrid Energy Storage Systems and Management Strategies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in hybrid energy storage systems and management strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS): An arrangement combining two or more storage technologies to exploit both high-energy and high-power characteristics for improved overall performance.
State of Charge (SoC): A measure of the remaining capacity of a storage device expressed as a percentage of its total usable energy.
Microgrid: A localized energy network capable of operating autonomously or in coordination with the main grid, often integrating distributed generation and storage.
Bidirectional Converter: A power‐electronic device that controls energy flow in both directions between a storage element and the network or DC bus.
Model Predictive Control (MPC): An advanced control strategy that uses a dynamic model of the system to optimise future control actions over a prediction horizon subject to constraints.
References
- A Comprehensive Review of Hybrid Energy Storage Systems: Converter Topologies, Control Strategies and Future Prospects. IEEE Access (2020).
- A Model Predictive Control Strategy for Performance Improvement of Hybrid Energy Storage Systems in DC Microgrids. IEEE Access (2022).
- A Review of Recent Advances on Hybrid Energy Storage System for Solar Photovoltaics Power Generation. IEEE Access (2022).
- Power Management Strategies in a Hybrid Energy Storage System Integrated AC/DC Microgrid: A Review. Energies (2022).
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