Center for Energy Science and Technology (CEST) is a new Skoltech Center grounded in 2018. CEST has been formed combining the former Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage (CEE) and Center for Energy Systems (CES), both grounded in 2013.
Research within CEST consists of five main thrusts (see below) and a cross-cutting thrust on computational materials that parallel key areas of global trends, market forecasts, anticipated industry size, expected growth, and targeted opportunities by 2025-2040.
The factors driving the growth of the energy conversion and storage markets are progress in renewable energy power generation, rapidly increasing grid scale energy storage market, drop in prices of metal-ion and redox flow batteries; and the growing applications of energy conversion and storage technologies in various end-user industries.
As of 2015, over 120 nations worldwide have undertaken the initiative of generating power through renewable energy sources and its storage in a cost-efficient manner. In terms of leveled cost basis, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind is expected to contribute significantly in the coming years in comparison to conventional energy sources such as coal, nuclear or gas. This trend is expected to continue in the long term as the cost for renewable energy sources would continue to fall.
Energy conversion and energy storage help in lowering the cost of a power system infrastructure such as transformers, distribution and transmission lines through load leveling during peak time. Both Solar Energy Conversion and Electrochemical Energy Storage, are essential components of integrated and diversified energy systems including smart micro-grids. A diversified energy system is a key driver for the growth of energy conversion and storage markets and can also be used to enhance frequency control capability and market regulation.
Research Thrusts
With a keen focus on emerging areas the CEST concentrates on the following (see details in section Research):
Thrust 1.ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE
Thrust 2. ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY CONVERSION
Thrust 3. SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION AND STORAGE
Thrust 4. SMART GRIDS: SYSTEMS AND DEVICES
Thrust 5. ENERGY MARKETS AND REGULATION
Cross-cutting Thrust. COMPUTATIONAL ENERGY MATERIALS