The push for renewable energy sources has birthed a new problem: where will we store all that energy? What happens if the sun isn't up, there is no wind, but...
  • Dessalines@lemmy.ml
    5·
    7 days ago

    Pumped water storage is kinda a gravity battery, and it’s currently the largest stored energy source for most countries.

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.mlOP
      5·
      7 days ago

      Yeah, they mention it in the vid. It’s the exact same principle, but this way you can do it anywhere without needing a large body of water near by.

      • Dessalines@lemmy.ml
        4·
        7 days ago

        Watched the vido now. Seems these gravity battery facilities might not be as efficient (80% to pumped hydro’s 90%), but you can construct them anywhere, and don’t need a mountainous land area nearby. Nice.

  • onlinepersona@programming.dev
    2·
    8 days ago

    Interesting, but I’m curious about how it comlaresbto other technologies in cost, maintenance, and efficiency. There are molten salt batteries being tested as well as hydrogen fuel cells, even heated concrete and flywheels.

    These seem simple but that can hide complex problems.

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.mlOP
      7·
      7 days ago

      The approach China is taking is to invest in all kinds of different approaches, and then see what works. I imagine the answer is going to be that different types of energy storage will work best in different situations. Something like gravity storage might be useful for balancing short term fluctuations in the grid, it can be built anywhere, and it’s very safe.