Abstract: A power generation system includes a power generation module coupled to a thermal storage system via a heat transfer connection. The thermal storage system includes a heat storage medium contained in a storage tank. The thermal storage system is operable for receiving an energy input in the form of electrical energy or mechanical energy at a first point in time, converting the input energy into thermal energy, transferring the thermal energy to the heat storage medium to thereby cause an increase in enthalpy of the heat storage medium, and storing the thermal energy in the heat storage medium. The power generation module converts the stored thermal energy, which is recovered from the thermal storage system via the heat transfer connection, into an electrical power output. The stored thermal energy is recovered from the thermal storage system at a second point in time temporally shifted from the first point in time.

Abstract: A rechargeable electrical storage device is disclosed, where one embodiment utilizes an anion (“A”) conducting electrolyte (18) and ion transfer between two electrodes (17, 19) where one electrode is preferably a metal electrode 19 that contains a mixture of metal and metal oxide, so that during operation, oxide-ions shuttle between the two electrodes (17, 19) in charging and discharging modes and the metal electrode (19) serves as a reservoir of species relevant to anion “A”.