Lithium-ion batteries under pulsed current operation to stabilize future grids

The large-scale utilization of renewable energy sources can lead to grid instability due to dynamic fluctuations in generation and load. Operating lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) under pulsed operation can effectively address these issues, owing to LIBs providing the rapid response and high energy density required. LIB deployment is also expected to reach 20 TWh from a vehicle-to-grid application by 2030. This review therefore highlights pulsed operation on LIBs for future grids, covering mechanisms, effects, and supporting hardware. Specific attention is paid to the fundamental mechanisms of pulsed operation on the stability of electric power system and micro-evolution in cells. The pulsed operation with appropriate parameters can provide superior effects for LIBs even under high-power charging and low-temperature operation. The hardware that supports bidirectional pulse is also introduced. This review presents the potential of LIBs participating in grid service via pulsed operation and may provide forward-looking guidance for the community.