Advancing Renewable Energy Integration Through Energy Storage Systems: A Policy, Economic, Social, and Technological Perspective

Abstract

The growing penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) has increased demand for flexible, reliable energy storage systems (ESS) to compensate for intermittency and ensure grid stability. This review critically assesses the most common ESS types from technical and artificial intelligence (AI)‐enabled perspectives, as well as political, economic, sociocultural, and technological (PEST) aspects. Lithium‐ion batteries suit short and medium duration applications, offering high round trip efficiency, energy density, and fast response. In contrast, flow batteries, pumped hydroelectric storage (PHE), compressed‐air energy storage, hydrogen, and thermal storage are better suited to long‐duration and bulk energy applications. The review also investigates data‐driven forecasting, energy management, state‐of‐charge and state‐of‐health estimation, predictive maintenance, digital twins, and AI‐assisted grid operation. The comparative evaluation shows that no single storage technology meets the requirements for efficiency, duration, scalability, cost, safety, and lifecycle sustainability. Therefore, hybrid storage schemes can capture the best of multiple features across different operating timescales. Significant deployment challenges include capital cost, degradation, recycling, data availability, cybersecurity, regulatory uncertainty, and inadequate standardization. New avenues being explored include second‐life batteries, long‐duration  storage, explainable and federated AI, digital twins, virtual power plants (VPPs), and circular material strategies. Harmonious breakthroughs in storage technology, smart/optimal control, policy, economic, and life cycle sustainability without compromising resilience, flexibility, and renewable penetration are urgently needed to enable clean power systems.