There is disclosed an improved Kolbe reactor system for converting electrical power into a hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a Kolbe reactor system comprising an open cavity Kolbe reactor and an initial hydrocarbon chemical formulation comprising from about 3N to about 6N C2-C5 carboxylic acid and from about 2M to about 4M alkali C2-C5 carboxylate, wherein the C2-C5 carboxylate and carboxylic acid have the same carbon alkyl length. The Kolbe reactor system can be continuously fed with C2-C5 carboxylic acid to maintain the initial formulation for a continuous process. Electrical energy is stored by converting the carboxylic acid to hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen, and is recovered by combustion of the hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen, and or conversion in a hydrogen fuel cell.