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This is the part where someone points out why I'm completely wrong: > solar roofs should come with batteries The way I understand it, batteries tend to be bad
by probably_wrong 8y ago
This is the part where someone points out why I'm completely wrong:
> solar roofs should come with batteries
The way I understand it, batteries tend to be bad for the environment if/when they need to be replaced, because often they are improperly recycled and/or there are no adequate facilities for that.
If this is correct, do we really want to have more of them around? Wouldn't an environmentally-friendly(ish) central plant be better in the long run?
- adrianN 8y agoLead acid batteries are pretty easy to recycle. We already do this for car batteries. Lithium batteries are currently not as easily recycled, but that seems to be because there is little demand for recycled Lithium and they're not very toxic in landfills.
- ant6n 8y agoStationary batteries have fewer constraints wrt to energy density, because they don't move.
- klunger 8y agoWell, it really depends on the kind of battery. I don't understand why these utilities are not creating a centralized battery in the form of, for example, pumped water. Use excess energy in the day to pump the water up, and let it down when the current energy demand exceeds standard production rates. Pumped water is not the only possibility either, there are plenty of alternatives which are not terrible for the environment. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_storage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_storage
- pjc50 8y agoPumped storage relies on having a suitable natural basin, building one is far too expensive. Quick googling suggests that Australia is already looking at this: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-06/tasmanian-pump-hydro-sites-identified/9839400 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-06/tasmanian-pump-hydro-s...