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There are many ideas in the pipeline for grid scale storage to smooth day-to-day renewable intermittency, but we also need seasonal storage. We need the ability
by jl6 3y ago
There are many ideas in the pipeline for grid scale storage to smooth day-to-day renewable intermittency, but we also need seasonal storage. We need the ability to draw energy from storage for extended periods (weeks or months), to cover low energy production during winter.
The seasonal energy storage problem is one that humanity (and, really, life in general) has always faced. Many of our traditional food products are methods of preserving energy from the good times to tide us over in the bad times. We have traditionally adapted our activities for the season. I would imagine that part of the solution will be re-introducing seasonality to industry (e.g. making aluminium mostly in the summer).
- mgiampapa 3y agoAt the rate that solar costs are falling we really don't. We just over-build and energy during the day is nearly zero cost. There is no problem with curtailing excess solar production, or opportunistically use that daytime power curve to run non time critical industrial processes.
- genman 3y agoThen you would have a lot of excess energy during the summer and this energy would then look for an use. Metal and cement production are very likely candidates and seasonality would be then dictated by the market.
- Panzer04 3y agoDepends if the capital cost of the increased manufacturing capacity is worth it to make up for lost winter production. I'm not all that convinced. Also consider the workforce differences too, since presumably this would also need to be on leave for a portion of the year.
- mgiampapa 3y agoNo one knows exactly where economy of scale will land us, but much like Moore's law the trend in the data is there. Of course any major change in these industries are going to have knock on effects. We have been automating the steel production process in 1st world countries for years simply due to the cost of human labor. I expect that trend will continue and those plant operators will effectively end up being paid to work on other things on non operation days.
- mgiampapa 3y agoI think green hydrogen production is the obvious use case, but smelting, carbon capture and other things you would do with "free" power all make sense.