Why Storage is Key for a Renewable Energy Future

The Colorado Renewable Energy Society presents:
Ken Regelson & Rhonda Peters:
The GRID needs a BATTERY - Why Storage is Key to a Clean Renewable Energy Economy
Batteries hold the key to a power grid based on clean renewable energy sources but they can do a lot more than most of us know. Learn why we can be optimistic that remaining hurdles in policy, technology and cost will soon be overcome.
Rhonda Peters, PhD, is an energy engineer and Principal at InterTran Energy Consulting. Her background is in the wind industry.
Ken Regelson is an electrical engineer and consultant focussed on accelerating the move to a sustainable energy future. He is online at EnergyShouldBe.org
Organized by the Jeffco chapter of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society. Contact: [e-mail].
cres-energy.org.
CRES features several local monthly speaker series throughout the state, provides speakers, experts, workshops and weighs in on state energy policy.
Note: Under the video, click on "...More" to get access to a running transcript.
Filmed and edited by Martin Voelker, CRES.

[@StormyJoeseph]

Solar concentration with thermal storage "batteries" and large scale Seebeck arrays to convert heat into potential difference. 😶 Small scale versions for off-grid homesteads with direct consumption of thermal energy for cooking, water distillation, water heating and large non-semi conductor based Peltier Arrays for cooling and refrigeration.

[@SrinivasKowtal]

We store energy not power in batteries. So unit for storage is Watt-Hour (either kWh or MWh). Power unit is KW or MW. I cant believe people get this wrong even those who should know better.

[@opaaloys]

We build in Germany the biggest cellf-flow battery based on polymers in brine. we have huge cavernes to store the electrolytes.

[@brad64van]

Pumped Hydro, two birds 1 stone. Energy supply and Water supply in 1 form and water may be a problem, on a warmer planet.

[@brad64van]

Like any apartment building.. pool in parking garage with wind power and a pool on the roof. 3 birds.. cause now you also don't need nasty diesel backup generators in every apartment building. hmm 4 birds as you now also have stored distributed water supply.

[@brad64van]

Guess it's different here in Vancouver bc canada every high rise is required to get permits for construction to have a backup power supply for the entire building (think it's 72hrs) i have never lived in an apartment that doesn't, might be a northern thing as no power in -10 is life threatening. I'm not sure on the requirements but intuitively feel a 30-50 story building should have enough height to generate power between roof and underground parking (8 such towers i can see from mine atm with 200+ in vancouver area) with wind at night pumping the water and electric methods of keeping water clean such as UV. (though ours is very clean to begin with) May just be that it would work well here in these conditions and not so well where these base requirements are already 1/2 way there.

[@brad64van]

Guess someone already had that idea lol Though they found it to not be economically competitive it is a choice we could make if it was a good idea for the particular environment the building is located. phys.org/news/2016-10-pumped-storage-hydroelectricity.html

[@brad64van]

"Oh, never heard of such a requirement for apartment buildings. Hospitals, sure. But not housing." After thinking about it it's probably more just basic economics nvm danger. Cheaper to have backup power supply then to have your pipes burst even 1 time in winter lol

[@brad64van]

My thoughts on pumped hydro are more it can be more than a 1 trick pony as it stores water which gives it added value a battery doesn't. If all energy storage on earth was pumped hydro, 100 gallons per person x 10 billion people would that counter 1 meter ocean rise by displacing it to land ?

[@lesroberts2244]

You are all forgetting, we are swimming in a sea of energy. Storage is already here.

[@DougGrinbergs]

Reno Gigafactory: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giga_Nevada

[@Jawshuah]

You could avoid this whole issue if you just used 50% nuclear