3 ms·

We're also pretty far away from the kinds of renewable penetration where you actually need a lot of storage, so we have plenty of time left to build more batter

We're also pretty far away from the kinds of renewable penetration where you actually need a lot of storage, so we have plenty of time left to build more batteries and electrolyzers.

nradov 5y ago
Electrolysis is extremely inefficient. It's unlikely to be a practical means of grid scale energy storage any time soon.
- jhgb 5y ago
  It's not just a means of energy storage; it's a method for producing a vital chemical feedstock. If your main alternative is processing natural gas, building more electrolysers is a no-brainer. You'll have to do it no matter what the efficiency, since we just don't have a better way.
- adrianN 5y ago
  Yeah round trip efficiencies are very bad, but at scale it's cheaper than batteries as far as I know.
  - pfdietz 5y ago
    The two storage modes are complementary. Batteries would be good for diurnal storage, hydrogen for longer term and rare event backup.
- ephbit 5y ago
  80 per cent is what you call extremely inefficient ... what percentage would be "efficient" then in your opinion? > Accounting for the accepted use of the higher heat value (because inefficiency via heat can be redirected back into the system to create the steam required by the catalyst), average working efficiencies for PEM electrolysis are around 80% ... [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis_of_water#Industrial_output https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis_of_water#Industri...]