The Conversation Climate News

While battery innovations get a lot of attention, there’s a simple, proven long-term storage technique that’s been used in the U.S. since the 1920s.

It’s called pumped hydro energy storage. Here’s how it works

https://theconversation.com/batteries-get-hyped-but-pumped-hydro-provides-the-vast-majority-of-long-term-energy-storage-essential-for-renewable-power-heres-how-it-works-174446

#Energy #batteries #GreenPower (via @TheConversationUS)

Batteries get hyped, but pumped hydro provides the vast majority of long-term energy storage essential for renewable power – here’s how it works

A team of researchers found 35,000 pairs of existing reservoirs, lakes and old mines in the US that could be turned into long-term energy storage – and they don’t need dams on rivers.

The Conversation
Jan 22, 2023 at 10:44pmWeb
Show threadSteven MolnarJan 22, 2023
@TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS Absolutely, but I'm still hoping (as I have been for over 50 years) for flywheel energy storage to become a big player, both at the residential and commercial level.
Show threadChris MerleJan 22, 2023
@MolnarSteven @TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS not everywhere can use pumped hydro. We need a range of options including flywheels. I like the idea of using sand to store heat like that pilot project in Finland. It’s cheap and a lot of energy needed at scale is heat.
Show threadSteven MolnarJan 22, 2023
@clmerle @TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS There's also the system (in the US southwest?) of trains loaded with rocks going up a mountainside. You can't get much more simple than that.
Show threadcopsewoodJan 23, 2023

@MolnarSteven @TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS

When big coal generators were the UK grid mainstay, the weight of spinning parts did help stabilise grid frequency at 50Hz . But only for a few minutes. It's not difficult to work out the energy stored in a flywheel based on its size and maximum RPM before it disintegrates due to internal stresses, and it's not much compared to the need of a few week's reserve for long winter anticyclones when there's insufficient wind or solar.

Show threadNorman KebellJan 23, 2023
@TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS I think we do this in Scotland
Show threadNorman KebellJan 23, 2023
@TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS The Cruachan Power Station (also known as the Cruachan Dam) is a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The scheme can provide 440 MW of power and produced 705 GWh in 2009.
Show threadNorman KebellJan 23, 2023
@TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS also Foyers, sure there are others and planned
Show threadcopsewoodJan 23, 2023
@TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS
It's the main grid storage resource in the UK now also. But it can't be expanded enough to meet the requirement of a fully renewably powered grid. I've done the calculations and we don't have enough sites for the reservoirs. Making all cars BEVs able to export to grid wouldn't be enough either. So we're going to need to make surplus wind and solar energy into hydrogen using electrolysis to be able to cope with the potential shortfall.
Show threadPeter Gray (per/per) 🚲🏞🎷🏠🌿Jan 23, 2023

@TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS

This

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/23/no-miracles-needed-prof-mark-jacobson-on-how-wind-sun-and-water-can-power-the-world

‘No miracles needed’: Prof Mark Jacobson on how wind, sun and water can power the world

The influential academic says renewables alone can halt climate crisis, with technologies such as carbon capture expensive wastes of time

The Guardian
Show threadSeppoJan 23, 2023

@TheConversationClimate @TheConversationUS

Natural lakes and rivers that have been dammed for hydro energy are already heavily regulated. This has severely damaged the river and lake ecosystems. Pumping hydro will make things even worse. Old mines are ok for this.