It has long been the opinion of this columnist that power electronics (PE) and energy storage (ES) are not just complementary, but should always be thought of as two peas in the same pod. In other words, it almost seems contrarian to describe electronic systems as having these independent contributors that naturally go hand-in-hand with each other. Anytime we discuss the design of a new system or propose solutions to the most challenging issues, the conversation feels like it is missing something without some consideration for ES.
As usual, our best template comes from nature, as pointed out in the inaugural column of Power Rocks [1]. Examples of this range from the cellular (i.e., Adenosine Triphosphate or ATP, complex carbohydrates/starches/fats, etc.) to the global level (i.e., geothermal energy, weather patterns, etc.). While we tend to think of most ES as electrochemical or faradaic batteries, it should be noted that there are also more mechanicallybased sources of ES, such as thermal, gravity, and inertia (a.k.a. flywheels).
For more on this article click here.