Energy Storage: Costly but Key to Power Production

Apparently the concept of pumped water energy storage that was perfected in the early 30's is not green enough.

Sure its cheap, reliable, durable, multi functional, stabilizes both electrical and fresh water supply and reserves, is safe and environmentally neutral, and is well proven but simple tech but apparently thats not what modern energy storage is about.

Don't confuse us with the facts.

The power grid can handle the transfer of power from one place to the other, so why doesn't pumped storage work?

Depends who you work for?

Large scale pumped water storage causes similar problems to that other green generation thing called Hydro power generation.

As I have previously mentioned our large scale hydro plans in New Zealand are also on hold because of an absurd green movement by people who don't know what they are talking about but seem to have more time on their hands to slow environmental progress. What are we using instead, more coal and gas, why - apparently increasing the population increases the power usage.

_{Jack - PO by BS}

Have you thought of using pumps driven with solar power during day light hours into a reservoir and use the power thus stored as static energy, during peak hours or demand hours ?

This arrangement should be much more economical in the long run than usie of batteries, whose life is a maximum two/three years. Rotary equipment , on the other hand has a much longer life and efficiency also.

That's pumped storage.

Solar, wind, whatever it takes to replenish the water in the upper lake.

As Michael Keaton said in Mr. Mom: "220, 221 whatever it takes".

Only problem being it is during daylight hours the utilities need the most power. Hence the notion of using base load surplus capacity to pump storage for when the surplus capacity is needed.

Speaking of 'green' take a look at all the noxious chemicals required for production of solar panels and the associated electronics. Hydro-electric dams and turbines are cleaner, last longer and except during constructio has zero emissions of any kind.

Pumped storage is only economical where the geography permits. If the elevation change is adequate and close enough to the power source, then it may be economically viable. Using the tides to store water to run turbines utilizes pumped storage, sometimes. Of course, you gotta have a mountain close by to build a storage pond.

If you design an elevated storage tank to use as energy storage, you will find that the cost of building the tank would make the project uneconomical. Most people live on the plains, so, an elevated storage tank would be required or a piping system to run many miles to a spot that's high enough to do any good. The costs per KWH would be astronomical.

My idea that I have mentioned before on CR4 will eventually come to pass. That is, a global grid of solar power. When the sun isn't shinning here, we get the energy from where it is shining. What makes this feasible is the new found ability to transfer DC current long distances economically. As this system takes hold, motors will gradually be built for DC instead of AC and, therefore, no inverters will be required. The elimination of using heat to make electricity will be one hellava accomplishment. The worldwide solar grid is better than fission or fusion.

The worldwide solar grid will come to reality in about 50 years. That is, if we can stop the radicals from destroying the world. Well, we can't plan on that happening. If it happens, then, so be it. Prevent it if we can, but don't use it in planning for the future, just keep on truckin.

Have some fun today,

PAPADOC

RMFR