2 ms·

Batteries are generally better for short term storage, aka daily usage. Pumped hydro is generally better for long term storage. We need both, but we can gen

Batteries are generally better for short term storage, aka daily usage. Pumped hydro is generally better for long term storage. We need both, but we can generally efficiently get to 70-90% carbon-free electricity without long term storage so we haven't need much long term storage yet.

pfdietz 3y ago
> Pumped hydro is generally better for long term storage Up to a point. Very long term storage is another thing again. This twitter/X post has a very nice animated graphic of the predicted evolution of storage technologies over time (from 2020 to 2030), plotted against two attributes: duration of discharge, and # of cycles per year. https://twitter.com/iain_staffell/status/1722544993179504965 https://twitter.com/iain_staffell/status/1722544993179504965 Li-ion batteries and hydrogen are expanding the areas where they would dominate; pumped hydro is shrinking. Compressed air is getting squeezed out (no pun intended).