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> Energy storage (at cost) is an unsolved problem. Super-true. It's actually pretty fascinating how it's currently done in the grid; storage of energy is often
by fixermark 8y ago
> Energy storage (at cost) is an unsolved problem.
Super-true. It's actually pretty fascinating how it's currently done in the grid; storage of energy is often done by converting it (at significant efficiency loss) to a mechanical format.
Those formats can get very creative---traditional is "pump a bunch of water uphill into an artificial reservoir," but in areas where big dry mines are available, capping the mine and pressurizing the air inside is also used, which feels super-weird but apparently works?
- viraptor 8y agoI've never heard of this before and it sounds really cool. CAES on Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_air_energy_storage https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_air_energy_storag... UK project: https://www.storelectric.com/technology/ https://www.storelectric.com/technology/
- icebraining 8y agoAlso, huge flywheels: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_storage_power_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_storage_power_system