In this article authors carried out the analysis of the implemented projects in the field of energy storage systems (ESS), including world and Russian experience. An overview of the main drivers and the current areas of application of ESS in power systems, including systems with renewable energy sources and distributed generation, has been performed. Approaches to solving a variety of urgent problems of choosing the set of equipment, organizing the structure of power systems, maintaining modes, improving the quality of energy, ensuring the stability and reliability of power systems using ESS are described. The foreign and domestic experience of using various technologies for accumulating electrical energy is considered. The most promising areas in which using of energy storage systems gives the greatest technical and economic effect, and also allows you to use the multifunctionality of the ESS in full are highlighted. The scenarios for use of ESS in electric power industry are considered.