Coal Mines May Have Extended Utility
Frequent commenter Brian McGowan sent me this delightful little article, for those of you who, like me, thought that coal mines could serve no useful purpose in the context of 21st Century energy.
Frequent commenter Brian McGowan sent me this delightful little article, for those of you who, like me, thought that coal mines could serve no useful purpose in the context of 21st Century energy.
I was hoping the article was going to address some method of using the carbon in the coal, in place, as a battery…. maybe next year.
The article about longer lasting flow batteries was interesting but the new lithium/glass hybrid solid state battery/ultracap seems most intriguing at this point.
The article was very lacking in information. Note the following sentence therefrom:
“Generally with flow batteries, all that’s required to recharge them is replacing the liquid electrolytes — the chemical compound that allows for an electrical charge when dissolved.”
Exactly what does that mean? That more minerals need to be mined to produce new liquid electrolytes? Probably not, but there isn’t adequate information to understand how the flow batteries work. The problem is that entirely too many publications permit unqualified authors to write articles on subjects which they do not understand.
Breath and Frank your critques are on target- more info needed to see if there is something really there.
re purposing old closed coal mines into pumped hydro storage is a good move , nothing to sneer or laugh or discount.Good way to get firm power when needed.
Maybe this would be good for West Vir and Eastern Ky and it would re invigorate the local economy and displaced coal workers. etc.
On the sarcastic side, Trumpet could show up with Beach clothes and his daughter could launch a new line of Hydro style outfits and make Appalachia Great Again ! LOL LOL !!