3 ms·

Isn't this where pumped storage and other forms of storage come into play? Here in Scotland we routinely pump water back up into our lochs in order to store it

Isn't this where pumped storage and other forms of storage come into play? Here in Scotland we routinely pump water back up into our lochs in order to store it for future use. There's also various news articles reporting on German mines beginning to be used as pumped storage sites, with a reservoir on the surface, and water dropping into the mines below when there's sudden demand. This is a good problem to have, though.

maxerickson 8y ago
A lot of the best sites for pumped storage are already developed as pumped storage. It's kind of the opposite of other storage technologies. As sites get developed the economics of future sites get worse.
nmeofthestate 8y ago
According to Wikipedia we have 15 GWh of pumped storage capacity in Scotland. Per annum we use 27,000 GWh. So by my calculations we have a pumped storage battery that lasts about 5 hours. (NB: I didn't check whether the power output of this battery is enough to actually meet demand, but wikipedia says it can run at full capacity for 22 hours, so no)
- mattmanser 8y ago
  It can be reused more than once a year. You could use it every day, charge at night when there's no demand, discharge it during the peak. Really depends on how fast it can charge and discharge.
  - bluGill 8y ago
    Depends more on how variable your supply is. If you have to meet a two week window with below average wind it isn't enough. If you have to just meet day to day variation in wind it is probably enough. Unfortunately two weeks without much wind are common in general weather patterns. Thus my gut reaction is it isn't enough. However we are now talking weather where local patterns are the important thing which means each situation needs to be considered separately.
- pjc50 8y ago
  Sounds about right. It's used for demand-smoothing over fairly short periods. (I've been to Cruachan, well worth the visit even though you can't walk around the turbine hall any more)
jamesblonde 8y ago
In Ireland there have been studies using sea-facing valleys to store pumped sea-water. There are an order of magnitude more of these (left-over from the last ice-age) than river valleys for pumped hydro storage. The spirit of ireland group looked at them. When we really need the stored energy, this plan will get dug up again. Reference: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2012/02/massive-energy-storage-courtesy-west-ireland http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2012/02/massive-energy-storag...

maxerickson 8y ago

A lot of the best sites for pumped storage are already developed as pumped storage. It's kind of the opposite of other storage technologies. As sites get developed the economics of future sites get worse.

nmeofthestate 8y ago

According to Wikipedia we have 15 GWh of pumped storage capacity in Scotland. Per annum we use 27,000 GWh. So by my calculations we have a pumped storage battery that lasts about 5 hours. (NB: I didn't check whether the power output of this battery is enough to actually meet demand, but wikipedia says it can run at full capacity for 22 hours, so no)

mattmanser 8y ago
It can be reused more than once a year. You could use it every day, charge at night when there's no demand, discharge it during the peak. Really depends on how fast it can charge and discharge.
- bluGill 8y ago
  Depends more on how variable your supply is. If you have to meet a two week window with below average wind it isn't enough. If you have to just meet day to day variation in wind it is probably enough. Unfortunately two weeks without much wind are common in general weather patterns. Thus my gut reaction is it isn't enough. However we are now talking weather where local patterns are the important thing which means each situation needs to be considered separately.
pjc50 8y ago
Sounds about right. It's used for demand-smoothing over fairly short periods. (I've been to Cruachan, well worth the visit even though you can't walk around the turbine hall any more)

jamesblonde 8y ago

In Ireland there have been studies using sea-facing valleys to store pumped sea-water. There are an order of magnitude more of these (left-over from the last ice-age) than river valleys for pumped hydro storage. The spirit of ireland group looked at them. When we really need the stored energy, this plan will get dug up again. Reference: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2012/02/massive-energy-storage-courtesy-west-ireland http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2012/02/massive-energy-storag...