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Energy Storage: Costly but Key to Power Production

Forbes -- Ever wish you could just bottle up those beautiful sun shinny days? Well, some companies are trying to do just — in the context of “energy storage.” Simply, that’s a technology that allows batteries or other devices to harness the wind and sun when they are abundant and to release that energy when they are not.

That would certainly help green energy make headway into markets, overcoming the argument that they are too unreliable. However, energy storage has other assets: If proven and cost effective, it would allow utilities to avoid investments in power plants as well as in transmission and distribution. It would also permit generators to operate more efficiently because they would run closer to full capacity for longer periods of time.

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Submitted Apr 30, 2012 By: eromitlab

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TekWare Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,156 Points:671,925 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:44:36 PM Ignore TekWare Report Abuse We need to harness gravity. There's an endless supply of that here, and it's free! At least until they figure a way of charging us for it.
Dsin44 Champion Author Abbotsford Posts:1,272 Points:272,660 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:41:11 PM Ignore Dsin44 Report Abuse long time a coming
shea33 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:2,363 Points:541,965 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:40:01 PM Ignore shea33 Report Abuse got it
DaisysMomNC All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:959 Points:200,850 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:38:59 PM Ignore DaisysMomNC Report Abuse Its going to take years before this transformation.
itsjustme719 All-Star Author Hamilton Posts:611 Points:598,450 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:37:19 PM Ignore itsjustme719 Report Abuse I think it would be better for each household to produce its own green energy than to have it generated in mass quantity, stored, and transmitted via power lines.
Tucker16 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:1,159 Points:542,880 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:36:00 PM Ignore Tucker16 Report Abuse We need better battery technology.
stueyAZ Sophomore Author Phoenix Posts:212 Points:23,730 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:34:07 PM Ignore stueyAZ Report Abuse Oh wow !!
checkitnow Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,031 Points:571,345 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:30:22 PM Ignore checkitnow Report Abuse 'green energy' is not ready for prime time, despite however much obummer wishes (and wastes our money)
JagXKR Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,154 Points:1,090,405 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:29:29 PM Ignore JagXKR Report Abuse Technology that is still decades away for the average person.
Tracer2008 All-Star Author Alberta Posts:540 Points:312,445 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:28:08 PM Ignore Tracer2008 Report Abuse The company that builds these type of batteries/ the man who builds it will be very wealthy, very fast
skyking19 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:1,996 Points:1,697,965 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:25:01 PM Ignore skyking19 Report Abuse Verdict is still out on green energy real costs.
warlord1 Champion Author Georgia Posts:5,240 Points:1,033,025 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:23:13 PM Ignore warlord1 Report Abuse ok
LegoVasavouchi Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:1,659 Points:114,390 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:22:36 PM Ignore LegoVasavouchi Report Abuse Fascinating.
jdc17327 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,555 Points:197,690 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:22:30 PM Ignore jdc17327 Report Abuse great idea! Finally we are getting some brains in our empty heads!
warlord1 Champion Author Georgia Posts:5,240 Points:1,033,025 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:22:24 PM Ignore warlord1 Report Abuse ok
g747 Champion Author Mobile Posts:4,536 Points:932,695 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:21:56 PM Ignore g747 Report Abuse That all sounds good;make it happen!!!!!!!!!!!!.
SSchmidty Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,343 Points:1,776,080 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:21:42 PM Ignore SSchmidty Report Abuse Just one more way for pig-oil to grab more $$$
mageetp Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,205 Points:625,655 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:18:54 PM Ignore mageetp Report Abuse Time will tell if this will work out.
mikaye Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,829 Points:864,435 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:15:52 PM Ignore mikaye Report Abuse better batteries are in europe but us will not let them in to lower US costs
TDIdave Champion Author California Posts:5,053 Points:1,223,765 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:15:03 PM Ignore TDIdave Report Abuse Good.
adr47 Champion Author Saskatchewan Posts:5,667 Points:1,178,750 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:08:03 PM Ignore adr47 Report Abuse Good
babugp Veteran Author Philadelphia Posts:339 Points:76,685 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:08:00 PM Ignore babugp Report Abuse oky
iceman11 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,715 Points:536,425 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:07:08 PM Ignore iceman11 Report Abuse interesting hope it works
inchgallo Rookie Author Manitoba Posts:46 Points:11,220 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:05:53 PM Ignore inchgallo Report Abuse bottle up they would still tax you
todayilearned Veteran Author Tucson Posts:289 Points:61,390 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:02:50 PM Ignore todayilearned Report Abuse Living in AZ... too much SUN!
ratones1 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,907 Points:731,005 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:02:44 PM Ignore ratones1 Report Abuse INTERESTING...
KWM2011 Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,451 Points:351,950 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:59:08 PM Ignore KWM2011 Report Abuse Keep trying.
diegotoad Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,407 Points:815,425 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:56:35 PM Ignore diegotoad Report Abuse Technology will need to catch up but eventually.
wackochick Sophomore Author Detroit Posts:113 Points:23,850 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:54:26 PM Ignore wackochick Report Abuse advancing in leaps and bounds will be a clear function of improvements in price and efficiency as has ALWAYS been the case with new technology. Can't make huge improvements until it becomes more economical for most persons
darkknight1 Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:4,330 Points:894,860 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:47:52 PM Ignore darkknight1 Report Abuse sun shinny days? who proofed this?
swrestler Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:6,130 Points:1,570,850 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:47:14 PM Ignore swrestler Report Abuse Hard To Live With Our Batteries...
dollarwatcher Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:7,940 Points:1,534,245 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:44:54 PM Ignore dollarwatcher Report Abuse So I guess just leave things as they are.
rbrk02 Champion Author Rhode Island Posts:5,731 Points:816,050 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:44:11 PM Ignore rbrk02 Report Abuse From the article, "The Electricity Storage Association is advocating for tax and financial incentives like the investment or production tax credits given to wind and solar...." Sounds like more cost to US tax payers, doesn't it?
midnightsdc Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,294 Points:1,482,340 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:42:05 PM Ignore midnightsdc Report Abuse Batteries...hard to live without them.
computernut2008 Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,568 Points:1,349,390 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:41:17 PM Ignore computernut2008 Report Abuse No green crap
comprof Champion Author Houston Posts:6,854 Points:1,355,775 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:38:03 PM Ignore comprof Report Abuse Batteries just too expensive and too short a life..
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:5,487 Points:1,509,105 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:36:44 PM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse If you want economy you must pay for it. Economics 101L lined paper.
NemoIL Champion Author Illinois Posts:3,020 Points:1,312,245 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:35:49 PM Ignore NemoIL Report Abuse Not more batteries and "green" energy. We need to wake up to Aneutronic Fusion, using the hydrogen/boron fuel cycle, e.g. (H + 11B > 3 4He + 8.7 MeV) All of our power problems would be solved then, and we would have enough raw power to crack water into hydrogen fuel, and be able to run truly non-polluting hydrogen powered vehicles. If we would invest in this future power source, all these ridiculous wind mills, solar cells and other low density power schemes would disappear, replaced by the power of the mighty atom.
SpankyMI Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,703 Points:758,305 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:31:03 PM Ignore SpankyMI Report Abuse The problem with batteries is they cost to much for the energy they deliver. No to mention the cost to recycle them when they no longer hold a charge.
DABEE1073 Champion Author San Diego Posts:8,200 Points:1,572,110 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:29:38 PM Ignore DABEE1073 Report Abuse HELP!!! I RAN OUT OF "AA" BATTERIES.
stephen2155 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,019 Points:657,055 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:28:03 PM Ignore stephen2155 Report Abuse Ok
OOXXFF Champion Author Greensboro Posts:3,058 Points:1,078,430 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:26:07 PM Ignore OOXXFF Report Abuse We desperately need better batteries.
theschmuck Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,912 Points:1,510,650 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:25:44 PM Ignore theschmuck Report Abuse A well written article that may be looking for a hand out from the taxpayers.
bullseye100 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,424 Points:583,605 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:25:00 PM Ignore bullseye100 Report Abuse Who is going to finance this technology? WE ARE.
Bildawg Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,066 Points:480,970 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:23:51 PM Ignore Bildawg Report Abuse Ok
jwduke1 Champion Author Iowa Posts:15,604 Points:3,068,265 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:21:27 PM Ignore jwduke1 Report Abuse Agreed lets waste more taxpayer money!
SandeeC Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,988 Points:460,480 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:16:51 PM Ignore SandeeC Report Abuse A great idea comes by using an old abandoned mine site at Marmora, Ontario as a storage site. It works like this: "The pumped storage facility would generate about 400 megawatts of electricity by allowing water to flow through a turbine system from the reservoir to the open-pit mine. Power generated by the down flow will be used to pump the water back up to the reservoir to be recycled through the system." Read all about it on http://www.communitypress.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3165618. There are a lot of sites that could be put to good use like this. And to top it all off, it's good for the environment and is green!!!!!
gws2980 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:2,181 Points:500,365 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:16:33 PM Ignore gws2980 Report Abuse something new to me
orphancarguyPE Champion Author PEI Posts:3,843 Points:734,015 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:14:48 PM Ignore orphancarguyPE Report Abuse My roof mounted solar hot water panels only need one sunny day out of three for all the hot water I need, stored in one big well insulated tank (with a heat exchanger) Think outside the box--or tank--because that is another type of energy storage too. Sun Shinny? Thats a game kids play on the street, but they can also play it when the sun goes behind a cloud.
bababooey2 Champion Author Hartford Posts:6,347 Points:1,301,865 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:12:37 PM Ignore bababooey2 Report Abuse let us waste more taxpayers money.
paisho6 Veteran Author Oakland Posts:294 Points:37,530 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:12:10 PM Ignore paisho6 Report Abuse OK
PizzaMon Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:5,134 Points:1,861,530 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 8:09:53 PM Ignore PizzaMon Report Abuse Sounds prime for another government handout.