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I really hope so! I think we need to see wind/solar at half the cost of gas to really break gas as an energy source. And battery storage is quite expensive for
by beat 7y ago
I really hope so! I think we need to see wind/solar at half the cost of gas to really break gas as an energy source. And battery storage is quite expensive for now - hundreds of dollars per mwh. Of course, there are other interesting alternatives, too - thermal storage, gravity, compressed air, etc. But conversion losses will probably always limit those systems to 25-35% efficiency at best, plus much higher construction cost relative to solar panels.
- luc4sdreyer 7y ago> But conversion losses will probably always limit those systems to 25-35% efficiency at best Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but the "alternative" energy storage systems you mentioned have about 80% or more round-trip energy efficiency: https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/energy-storage-2019#2 https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/energy-storage-2019#2 I quoted alternative because pumped-storage hydro accounts for 95% of grid energy storage in the world.
- rstuart4133 7y agoAnd it's not like the world lacks places to put new pumped storage: https://nationalmap.gov.au/renewables/#share=s-oDPMo1jDBBtwBNhD https://nationalmap.gov.au/renewables/#share=s-oDPMo1jDBBtwB...
- BeeOnRope 7y ago25-35% efficiency? Pumped hydro is generally over 70% roundtrip.