GasBuddy Blog

GasBuddy News Article

votes

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.

Read the Full Article

Submitted Apr 30, 2012 By: eromitlab

Back To News

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: Energy Storage: Costly but Key to Power Production	Post a Reply Back to Topics

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

First Prev

Next Last

feistyfella All-Star Author Georgia Posts:881 Points:193,995 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:36:23 PM Ignore feistyfella Report Abuse OK.
bdlewis Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,384 Points:382,905 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:34:55 PM Ignore bdlewis Report Abuse duh
Ken2OD Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:9,072 Points:1,971,940 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:34:54 PM Ignore Ken2OD Report Abuse Way too much solar energy is lost daily by the reflecting rays off the "chrome dome" guys who shave their heads.
BooHooMI Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,556 Points:344,610 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:34:31 PM Ignore BooHooMI Report Abuse No more help from a Gov't that's bankrupt and unable to pay it's own way.
carman11 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,342 Points:692,700 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:33:24 PM Ignore carman11 Report Abuse OK
GoGoGoodyear Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,053 Points:508,060 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:32:38 PM Ignore GoGoGoodyear Report Abuse All these facts are already well known to the engineers that design power generating systems. And there are several ways to store energy for later use so we don't need to wait for the invention of a better battery. The real problem, as touched on in the Forbes article, is that it is just as costly or more costly to build an energy storage system to help a smaller power generating plant than it is to just build a larger power generating plant that may not run at full capacity all the time.
miiike572 All-Star Author Phoenix Posts:798 Points:525,790 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:30:03 PM Ignore miiike572 Report Abuse ...
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,145 Points:1,883,670 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:29:53 PM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse Makes sence.
crowefamily1 All-Star Author Texas Posts:804 Points:297,100 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:29:41 PM Ignore crowefamily1 Report Abuse how about what is it called THERMAL energy, from the earths core?
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,176 Points:1,931,455 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:28:26 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse We need more research and innovation in energy storage or else new energy technologies will be wasted.
bif65 Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,023 Points:195,480 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:26:54 PM Ignore bif65 Report Abuse ok
knot2swift Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,388 Points:697,955 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:26:38 PM Ignore knot2swift Report Abuse Nice but one doesn't need NASA. I can see a time when spent batteries from EV's can get a second life on a wind farm or solar power farm. I agree storage is the key to wilder use of both for as it stands now, the grid can't handle too much fluctuation. But we don't need expensive rocket science.
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,212 Points:872,740 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:26:24 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse No more taxpayer dollars for solar and wind energy!!!
Adman1989 All-Star Author Massachusetts Posts:575 Points:125,555 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:26:11 PM Ignore Adman1989 Report Abuse more efficient storage = cheaper energy!
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,927 Points:1,575,955 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:21:46 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse storage is the answer to renewable energy
snappytom2 Champion Author Corpus Christi Posts:3,551 Points:274,770 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:21:46 PM Ignore snappytom2 Report Abuse No Joke.
tippybuddy Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,523 Points:207,740 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:19:57 PM Ignore tippybuddy Report Abuse storing is a good idea although I have no idea how to do that right now
MDTDriver Champion Author California Posts:9,729 Points:2,155,620 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:19:18 PM Ignore MDTDriver Report Abuse The DOME over your city is coming.
petrpuck All-Star Author Hamilton Posts:559 Points:418,560 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:17:15 PM Ignore petrpuck Report Abuse allrighty then
UseLessGasFolks Champion Author Iowa Posts:5,451 Points:1,296,825 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:15:28 PM Ignore UseLessGasFolks Report Abuse I would like to do that at home.
BKool Champion Author Michigan Posts:5,263 Points:1,900,305 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:14:21 PM Ignore BKool Report Abuse Sounded like an idea to be explored until the paragraph where power suppliers wanted help from the government:(
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,951 Points:1,183,960 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:13:06 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse very costly
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,569 Points:1,513,105 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:11:49 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse Good one
nc43bike Champion Author North Carolina Posts:12,495 Points:2,904,865 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:05:28 PM Ignore nc43bike Report Abuse I've heard of a "beautiful sun shiney day," but what is a "beautiful sun shinny day?"
chicoCA Champion Author California Posts:1,980 Points:1,774,530 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:04:47 PM Ignore chicoCA Report Abuse hmmmm
mconley1967 All-Star Author Louisville Posts:586 Points:360,230 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:04:39 PM Ignore mconley1967 Report Abuse Ok
firefly09 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,497 Points:716,700 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:03:09 PM Ignore firefly09 Report Abuse ok.
THX138 Champion Author San Francisco Posts:2,560 Points:1,014,905 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:59:45 PM Ignore THX138 Report Abuse k
drz614 Champion Author Harrisburg Posts:2,304 Points:598,595 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:58:51 PM Ignore drz614 Report Abuse ok
Killerbabydoll Champion Author Tucson Posts:1,267 Points:549,175 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:46:30 PM Ignore Killerbabydoll Report Abuse maybe
DeeLA Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,818 Points:1,365,330 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:44:49 PM Ignore DeeLA Report Abuse Interesting
camaro_man Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:2,232 Points:611,045 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:40:55 PM Ignore camaro_man Report Abuse wow
Tucker1961 Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,157 Points:363,170 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:28:22 PM Ignore Tucker1961 Report Abuse sounds interesting
paulydel Champion Author Delaware Posts:8,789 Points:847,900 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:25:56 PM Ignore paulydel Report Abuse Just a way to get more money out of us.
96sc1 Champion Author El Paso Posts:8,517 Points:1,367,440 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:23:29 PM Ignore 96sc1 Report Abuse Nature did it best when she bottled it up as petroleum.
bettersight Champion Author Oakland Posts:1,116 Points:255,885 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:20:15 PM Ignore bettersight Report Abuse ok
boborobot All-Star Author Michigan Posts:501 Points:417,550 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:18:06 PM Ignore boborobot Report Abuse Interesting article.
ericbcire Champion Author Nevada Posts:4,525 Points:1,267,710 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:12:27 PM Ignore ericbcire Report Abuse Cost effective is the key phrase. Green energy is not.
RBob Champion Author Portland Posts:3,374 Points:2,347,875 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:12:16 PM Ignore RBob Report Abuse We need to invest in large scale storage such as reverse flow generating plants/pumps with large revivors.
Colts13 Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,576 Points:548,960 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:08:29 PM Ignore Colts13 Report Abuse Ok.
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,576 Points:1,772,940 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:04:25 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse Seeking tax credits. Another piglet sucking the sow dry. Green is red.
rickfro All-Star Author San Diego Posts:685 Points:328,595 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:02:55 PM Ignore rickfro Report Abuse We've got to develop a way for batteries to store energy more easily.
IUVidiot Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,590 Points:709,335 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:02:00 PM Ignore IUVidiot Report Abuse ok
camel1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:8,270 Points:2,266,615 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:58:44 PM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse sounds interesting but extremely expensive
Romey08 Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,311 Points:1,436,490 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:56:00 PM Ignore Romey08 Report Abuse energy storage is key factor in times of shortages
USCCRN Sophomore Author Long Island Posts:145 Points:104,240 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:54:57 PM Ignore USCCRN Report Abuse Storing solar energy into batteries; converting plants into bio-fuels; turning waste into renewable resources, it's innovative and useful.
singlemom27 Champion Author Ventura Posts:3,113 Points:640,185 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:53:43 PM Ignore singlemom27 Report Abuse Great! Let's see it happen.
gass12 Champion Author Omaha Posts:8,394 Points:2,304,690 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:50:47 PM Ignore gass12 Report Abuse Nuke power was supose to be the ANSWER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,310 Points:1,638,920 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:50:19 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse WE SHALL SEE!
toadNY Champion Author Albany Posts:7,047 Points:1,514,125 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 9:47:41 PM Ignore toadNY Report Abuse Yes we need to work toward Green Energy but until it's affordable we need to still drill an refine oil an keep it here!
TekWare Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,166 Points:673,275 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