Mastodawn

The Conversation Climate News Jan 22, 2023

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

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Steven Molnar Jan 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.

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copsewood

@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.