The concept of energy storage is no more than common sense. It means — simply - a reservoir to hold back energy in order to ensure a steady, constant supply or to help avoid gluts and scarcity. A marathon runner, for instance, may switch to a high carbohydrate diet during the week before a race so that the stored energy can be released slowly during the time he most needs it. Similarly, a squirrel gathers nuts in autumn and stores them for a winter source of energy. For centuries, ice was harvested from lakes and rivers; insulated, stored and used for refrigerating purposes the following summer and by the middle of the nineteenth century energy stored in chemically charged batteries was used to power electrical equipment.
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