Publicação

Empowering sustainability assessment of energy storage

Detalhes bibliográficos
Resumo:	Energy storage (ES) plays a vital role in decarbonizing energy systems, yet its sustainability implications remain critical during its rapid deployment across mobile and stationary applications. This study presents the first systematic literature review focused on the assessment methods applied to ES systems in the sustainability context, by analyzing 205 peer-reviewed studies from the past five years. The review identifies Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as the most commonly employed methods, with a strong technological focus on hydrogen-based systems and batteries. In contrast, a limited number of studies consider social aspects in the sustainability context. An increasing trend toward integrated economic and environmental assessments is observed, though their coherence is often limited due to the absence of a standardized methodological framework. Most studies apply narrow system boundaries, frequently omitting critical life cycle stages such as the use phase and end-of-life. This paper provides a methodological overview of applied approaches, summarizes key indicators and gaps, and offers recommendations to enhance the comprehensiveness of ES sustainability assessments. Additionally, targeted suggestions are delivered for practitioners, method developers and policy actors to improve the quality and applicability of future assessment practices.
Autores principais:	Ersoy, Hüseyin
Outros Autores:	Baumann, Manuel; Erakca, Merve; Jasper, Friedrich; Ferraro, Marco; Pechancová, Viera; Stuhm, Patrick; Cellura, Maurizio; Longo, Sonia; Maniscalco, Manfredi Picciotto; Hischier, Roland; Busto, Chiara; Tacca, Alessandra; Dickler, Sebastian; Zapp, Petra; Wulf, Christina; Lechon, Yolanda; Haase, Martina; Weil, Marcel; Ramos, Tomás B.; Passerini, Stefano
Assunto:	Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment Fuel Technology Energy Engineering and Power Technology SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
Ano:	2025
País:	Portugal
Tipo de documento:	recensão
Tipo de acesso:	acesso aberto
Instituição associada:	Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Idioma:	inglês
Origem:	Repositório Institucional da UNL

Descrição
Resumo:	Energy storage (ES) plays a vital role in decarbonizing energy systems, yet its sustainability implications remain critical during its rapid deployment across mobile and stationary applications. This study presents the first systematic literature review focused on the assessment methods applied to ES systems in the sustainability context, by analyzing 205 peer-reviewed studies from the past five years. The review identifies Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as the most commonly employed methods, with a strong technological focus on hydrogen-based systems and batteries. In contrast, a limited number of studies consider social aspects in the sustainability context. An increasing trend toward integrated economic and environmental assessments is observed, though their coherence is often limited due to the absence of a standardized methodological framework. Most studies apply narrow system boundaries, frequently omitting critical life cycle stages such as the use phase and end-of-life. This paper provides a methodological overview of applied approaches, summarizes key indicators and gaps, and offers recommendations to enhance the comprehensiveness of ES sustainability assessments. Additionally, targeted suggestions are delivered for practitioners, method developers and policy actors to improve the quality and applicability of future assessment practices.