4 ms·
Instead of batteries why can't we reverse the turbines in hydro power plants?
by sscarduzio 5y ago
Instead of batteries why can't we reverse the turbines in hydro power plants?
- fastball 5y agoPumped hydro is in fact an energy storage method. It just requires having a dam, which is obviously not a workable solution in many (most?) places.
- wongarsu 5y agoIn some places it's a lake/reservoir uphill of a river instead of a dam.
- yobbo 5y agoIf you already have a dam and turbines it's obviously better to just run them in generating mode. But pumping stations also exist where it makes sense.
- perlgeek 5y agoThis exists, and is called "pumped hydro" energy storage. But it needs favorable geography and/or huge use of space. There isn't a single technology for all our energy storage needs, pumped hydro, batteries and lots of others all have their niche and efficient use cases.
- kragen 5y agoHarder to put a hydroelectric dam in your Tesla Roadster.
- fifilura 5y agoIn case of no wind, all Tesla owners should connect their car to the grid with a long cable and reverse in a circle.
- speedgoose 5y agoIt's already the case, check https://app.electricitymap.org/ https://app.electricitymap.org/ and look at the hydro storage on the left. Usually it stores energy during the night (a least in France last night).
- alkonaut 5y agoIntreresting fact: Sweden is dotted with mines. Many of these are defunct and abandoned. There are plans now to convert several abandoned mines to pumped hydro. That is, water is pumped from lower to higher levels in the mines, instead of up a hill to a reservoir. Great use of existing infra that would be way to expensive to dig for that purpose.
- belorn 5y agoI have not heard about this, and the concept sounds very scary. Old abandoned Swedish mines have a tendency to poison ground water with metals and other pollution unearthed by the mining process. https://www.sgu.se/mineralnaring/gruvor-och-miljopaverkan/ https://www.sgu.se/mineralnaring/gruvor-och-miljopaverkan/