Renewable Energy Systems for Multi-Form Coupling: Design Strategies and Energy Storage Solutions

  • Shanshan Sun orcid

    Beijing Xingcheng Luda Municipal Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing 102600, China
Article ID: 4414
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/esc4414
Keywords: multi-form energy coupling; renewable energy systems; integrated energy systems; energy storage; sector coupling

Abstract

To transition to carbon-neutral energy systems, it is necessary to transform traditional single-energy infrastructure into integrated renewable systems capable of combining electricity, heating, cooling, hydrogen, gas fuels, and transport. This survey explores the renewable energy systems to be coupled with multi-form systems with special emphasis on design and energy storage strategies. First, the architectural properties of coupled systems are discussed in terms of integration of renewable resources, inter-energy conversion pathways, and building, microgrid, industrial, and regional structural configurations. Second, the major design strategies are discussed, including system planning, capacity configuration, operational scheduling, control architecture, and resilience design. Third, the review assesses the contributions of electrical, thermal, hydrogen-based, chemical, and hybrid storage technologies to allow short-term regulation, long-duration balancing, and cross-sector flexibility. The comparison, modeling, and optimization techniques are also discussed to elucidate the role of techno-economic performance, environmental impact, and constraints on operational capabilities in system design choices. The review also specifies the key challenges associated with multi-timescale coordination, uncertainty propagation, interoperability, investment incentives, safety, and standardization. Based on this, trends in future development are emphasized, such as sector-coupling architecture hybrids, long-term storage, AI-based energy management, and modular deployment channels. This review provides a unified view that connects architecture and design, storage, and system analysis, and argues that coordinated multi-form coupling will be fundamental to creating flexible, resilient, and profoundly decarbonized renewable energy systems.

To transition to carbon-neutral energy systems, it is necessary to transform traditional single-energy infrastructure into integrated renewable systems capable of combining electricity, heating, cooling, hydrogen, gas fuels, and transport. This survey explores the renewable energy systems to be coupled with multi-form systems with special emphasis on design and energy storage strategies. First, the architectural properties of coupled systems are discussed in terms of integration of renewable resources, inter-energy conversion pathways, and building, microgrid, industrial, and regional structural configurations. Second, the major design strategies are discussed, including system planning, capacity configuration, operational scheduling, control architecture, and resilience design. Third, the review assesses the contributions of electrical, thermal, hydrogen-based, chemical, and hybrid storage technologies to allow short-term regulation, long-duration balancing, and cross-sector flexibility. The comparison, modeling, and optimization techniques are also discussed to elucidate the role of techno-economic performance, environmental impact, and constraints on operational capabilities in system design choices. The review also specifies the key challenges associated with multi-timescale coordination, uncertainty propagation, interoperability, investment incentives, safety, and standardization. Based on this, trends in future development are emphasized, such as sector-coupling architecture hybrids, long-term storage, AI-based energy management, and modular deployment channels. This review provides a unified view that connects architecture and design, storage, and system analysis, and argues that coordinated multi-form coupling will be fundamental to creating flexible, resilient, and profoundly decarbonized renewable energy systems.

Published
2026-08-25
How to Cite
Sun, S. (2026). Renewable Energy Systems for Multi-Form Coupling: Design Strategies and Energy Storage Solutions. Energy Storage and Conversion, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.59400/esc4414
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 3 (2026): In Progress
Section
Article

Copyright (c) 2026 Shanshan Sun

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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