Solar energy storage solutions are a diverse and evolving field of technology that addresses the fundamental challenge of solar power: its intermittency. While solar panels are highly effective at generating electricity when the sun is shining, the energy must be stored for use at night or on cloudy days. These solutions encompass a wide range of technologies, with batteries being the most common and rapidly adopted for both residential and utility-scale applications.

The most popular type of solar energy storage solutions for homes and businesses are electrochemical batteries, with lithium-ion leading the way due to its high energy density and continuous price decline. However, the field is much broader. At a large scale, technologies like pumped hydro storage, compressed air energy storage, and molten salt thermal storage are also used to store vast amounts of energy. For example, a solar plus storage system at a utility scale might use concentrated solar power (CSP) to heat molten salt, which can then be used to generate electricity long after the sun has set. The development of these different solutions is crucial for building a resilient and sustainable grid. They not only enable the integration of more renewable energy but also provide vital grid services like frequency regulation and peak shaving.