Systems and methods for storing electrical energy

A capacitor for storing electrical energy, comprising:

• a first electrode formed of a material capable of conducting electrons to or from an electrical load;
• a dielectric adjacent to said first electrode, wherein said dielectric is formed of a material that has lower electrical conductivity than said material of said first electrode;
• and
• a second electrode adjacent to said dielectric, wherein said second electrode is formed of material that is capable of conducting electrons to or from an electrical load, and wherein said second electrode is electrically isolated from said first electrode,
• wherein said first electrode, said second electrode, or both said first electrode and said second electrode, comprises bast and/or hurd material.

A method of manufacturing a capacitor, comprising:

• (a) obtaining bast and/or hurd material derived from a plant;
• (b) processing said bast and/or hurd material into processed material, which processed material is in fibrous or particle form;
• (c) using said processed material to generate a first electrode, a second electrode and/or a dielectric;
• and
• (d) optionally assembling said first electrode, second electrode and said dielectric to yield said capacitor comprising (i) said first electrode, (ii) said dielectric adjacent to said first electrode, and (iii) said second electrode adjacent to said dielectric, wherein said second electrode is electrically isolated from said first electrode, and wherein said capacitor has a power density of at least about 55 kilowatts (KW)/kilograms (kg) active mass at a temperature from 60° C.-100° C. over at least about 250 charge/discharge cycles via said electrical load.