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You just need more mass. Have a look at this concept: http://eduard-heindl.de/energy-storage/index-e.html http://eduard-heindl.de/energy-storage/index-e.html (u
by brute 12y ago
You just need more mass. Have a look at this concept: http://eduard-heindl.de/energy-storage/index-e.html http://eduard-heindl.de/energy-storage/index-e.html (unfortunately the english version is very sparse, the german version has some more images and videos: http://eduard-heindl.de/energy-storage/ http://eduard-heindl.de/energy-storage/ )
The idea is to cut a 1km diameter cylinder into the ground (solid rock), and then lift it up up to 500m by pumping water underneath it. The power stored can power a country for a day.
I am somewhat sceptical, but this guy is totally serious about it.
- joshvm 12y agoBut presumably you'd need more than a day's worth of power to lift the damn thing? That's probably doable, but still, I suspect that'd be the main problem.
- elmin 12y agoThe point is to have a way to store the excess energy we generate at off peak times like the middle of the night.
- brute 12y agoThe efficency is said the be 80%, just like any other pumped storage system. It just uses considerably less space than a water reservoir (actually close to none, as the top of the cylinder remains untouched) and is scalable by adjusting the radius. I guess the main problem is to keep the water confined (200bar of pressure) while keeping the mass movable. Maybe someday they build a small testing facility, so we know for sure.