Renewable energy storage scheme.

[RustyLugNut]

Here is a storage scheme that parallels the idea of using excess renewable energy to lift large bricks and use the resultant potential energy later.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90261233...edium=referral

[redneck]

.

Same concept as using rail cars.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/siteninja/m...S_-_101217.pdf


Central storage areas would work for highly populated areas.

Outside of populated areas, individual systems could be developed.

For instance, a chimney like structure could be added to a home with a
winch-motor-generator and a large weight. (Concrete or water)

Many years ago, I think it was Popular Science. Had a article that proposed putting a large concrete flywheel in the basement of a home for energy storage.


>

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by RustyLugNut

Here is a storage scheme that parallels the idea of using excess renewable energy to lift large bricks and use the resultant potential energy later.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90261233...edium=referral

Frictional losses verses evaporation of reservoirs or cost of water towers?

I learned about the below a few months ago, similar to as described in the article I suspect.

Ludington Pumped Storage Power Plant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luding...ge_Power_Plant

At night, during low demand for electricity, the turbines run in reverse to pump water 363 feet (111 m) uphill from Lake Michigan into the reservoir. The plant takes advantage of the natural steep sand dune landform of eastern Lake Michigan. During periods of peak demand water is released to generate power.

The below is new to me as well, it is interesting.

Originally Posted by redneck

.
Same concept as using rail cars.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/siteninja/m...S_-_101217.pdf

The cost of land would have a serious affect on that system, as much as geography has on the earth berm reservoir systems.

Yea, the original concept posted offers a lot of advantages.

[seifrob]

The trouble is in sheer mass that is needed to be transported. Lets say you want to make a cup of tea. To heat cup of water you need Q=cmdT, having m=0,2 kg; dT=85'C;c=4200 kJ/kg'C gives amount of 71400 Joules. Thats equivalent of rising 1 ton concrete block into height of 7 meters!

For any practical implementation you need to literally move mountains. Real time.

[redpoint5]

Space elevator and energy storage-

When excess power is generated, reel the space elevator in a bit with an electric motor. To get the power back out, the centrifugal force will spin the generator as the elevator unwinds.

[oil pan 4]

Very simple physics math tells us this isn't really useful, unless you have something the size of a lake.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Very simple physics math tells us this isn't really useful, unless you have something the size of a lake.

Which makes it quite impressive to compare to the energy content of modern batteries or a gallon of gasoline.

[Piotrsko]

Hasn't PGE been doing this for forever at Huntington lake just north of FRESNO?

The lake is full at dinnertime, perhaps 5 ft lower at dawn

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

The lake is full at dinnertime, perhaps 5 ft lower at dawn

Not quite the same: they just adjust the rate at which water flows out through the generators, rather than pumping it back up. (At least as far as I could find.) This is done to some extent with most dams.

[seifrob]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Not quite the same: they just adjust the rate at which water flows out through the generators, rather than pumping it back up. (At least as far as I could find.) This is done to some extent with most dams.

... What is clever actually. Let the Sun do the actual pumping! (well, and the Rain too...)