Energy Storage Can Scale in Incredible Ways

Here’s a discussion about pumped hydro energy storage I had with 2GreenEnergy super—supporter Gary Tulie:

Gary:  Hi Craig.  Here is a proposal to create the world’s largest pumped hydro storage facility – with a potential capacity of up to 6,800 GWh and a peak power output as high as 255 GW, using sea water. 

The proposed site is in Scotland, and would offer sufficient balancing power to level out and back up all the wind and solar power in Europe.

In practice, I think it would make more sense to reduce the maximum output to allow for 3 or 4 days of backup, but that’s just my opinion. There is no mention of cost, but needless to say, it would involve a significant expenditure – not just locally, but in massively expanding the European super grid.

Craig:  Wow. That’s what I call scale.  It’s a reminder of what an interesting time to be alive it is right now. We’re transforming the entire energy infrastructure in just a few short decades.

Gary:  True, the scale is staggering. I think in fact that it is more of a “what if” idea than a serious project – if nothing else, that large a reservoir containing sea water would almost certainly leak – risking contamination of Loch Ness (pictured) with sea water. What it does indicate however is that with a little imagination, storage on a huge scale can be deployed.

In fact, in this area, I would suggest that a reservoir of maybe 5% of this capacity, and 7% of the energy rating in the upper part of the large proposal, and using fresh water from Loch Ness would be much more investable, have far lower environmental impacts, and still allow around 5 GW for 100 hours.

Craig:  It would also be better if it were more centrally located on The Continent, don’t you think?

Gary: The Centre of the continent would be interesting – possibly using Lac Lemon or one of several large lakes in the Alpine region as the lower reservoir.  However a facility in Scotland with around 5 GW power and 100 full load hours would be very useful for balancing Scotland’s current and planned wind power capacity.

Craig: You never fail to amaze me with how much you know about this (stuff).