Renewable energy's unsung bottleneck

Just a quickie on energy technology developments...

Energy storage technology—more specifically, for electrical energy—is the bottleneck that never gets sufficient coverage in the renewable fuels discussions, in my judgment. 

Why is energy storage so important?  Because the wind and the sun provide us with their energy in the wrong places at the wrong times.  To make a dent in the energy mix, wind- and sun-powered electricity must be generated when the generating is good, then stored in massive quantities, for subsequent release into the grid when the demand calls for it.  One of the more effective ways of doing that today, in topologically-fortunate areas, is using off-hours electricity to pump water uphill into a reservoir, then later using it to generate electricity during high-demand hours.  Other storage ideas under development are flywheels, supercapacitors, superbatteries, and underground compressed air caverns.

I keep an eye on energy storage news, and noticed this story yesterday: World's Largest Wind Farm to be Built in Texas.  It says the two companies will "explore" using underground storage of compressed air, for later use in gas turbines.  My reaction was, gee I hope the exploration is successful; otherwise, the new wind farm could turn out to be little more than another array of "Condor cuisinarts" (...as they were dubbed in California).  Let's wish them luck, though; I hope it works. 

To me, however, the big breakthrough will be a safe, affordable, gasoline-tank-sized battery or supercapacitor that will hold 300 vehicle-miles worth of electric potential (...as I explained in the sixth energy article).  When that becomes available, I'll purchase not only the new vehicle, but also a spare battery, and some roof-mounted solar panels for recharging the spare while the sun shines. 

Dream on, Steve.

Comments

[Stephen Reed]

I think new battery technology is possibly the most exciting current research being done. I really think that plug-in electrics are the most promising alternative to the combustion engine.

Take a look at one of the newest batteries being developed that I think is the next step after the Lithium-Ion battery, called a Nano Titanate battery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nano_Titanate_battery

Check out some of these news links from the company developing the battery, it includes a youtube video of an SUV being powered by one of the batteries:
http://www.altairnano.com/news.html

Here are the main highlights of the battery:

*Very fast charge - rechargeable in minutes (over 80% charge capacity in about one minute).

*Long life – potentially up to 20+ year life (Conventional lithium batteries can be typically charged about 750 times before they are no longer useful, whereas, in laboratory testing, the nano-titanate material have now achieved over 9,000 charge and discharge cycles at charge and discharge rates up to 40 times greater than are typical of common batteries, and they still retain up to 85% charge capacity.)

*Extremely wide operating temperature range from -50°C/-60°F to +75°C/165°F

*Inherent safety – no risk of thermal runaway.

[PseudoNoise]

Sounds like a fine area where government can use its considerable capital to encourage research in hopes of promoting the general welfare.

Like I said previously, this country desperately needs an "Apollo Program" for renewable energy research. If only the money sent to prop up oil companies could be redirected into battery research.

(Bonus -- the oil companies would certainly pass their "extra costs" on to the consumer, making gasoline more expensive).

[Stephen Reed]

PseudoNoise,

I don't think it is a good idea to subsidize the research directly. The more efficient method is to subsidize the results. If a company creates a technology that meets the minimum standards set out, they will be given a cash reward in the amount determined to be roughly what we think such technology is worth.

If you subsidize the research directly, you get the government trying to pick winners and you get money going to research that sounds good but really has no realistic chance of making it to market.

[Jim]

I posted it before in the OBIC article, but the prize idea for energy storage is being tried by the DOD. $1M for the best "wearable" power source to supply 20W avg pwr for 96 hours weighing less than 4kg. Clearly this is intended for military applications, but a lighter, longer-lasting energy source has many civilian applications as well. Could a gas-tank-full-of-electrons prize be closer than we think?

http://tinyurl.com/282j7k

[Bob]

See, this is a topic I can wrap my arms around. If only we could find a way to focus a large amount of human energy on this problem, I believe we can solve it. I'm one of those who believe that intense focus on a problem results in a high probability of success. Not always, I know. But, I'd say more times than not.

However, the lack of this focus I attribute, in part,to a lack of political will and leadership. Steve touched on this in one of his posts in which he asked where all the statesman have gone.

I'm not naive enough to think that
a President alone can make this happen. But, it sure would be great to hear one speak with optimism, passion and clarity about setting a grand goal for our future energy needs.

And, no carbon offsets allowed.

[rufus]

A couple of things:

Renewables are getting more, and more, cost competitive with fossil fuels, and states are turning against fossil fuels for various reasons.

Peak energy usage in the South, and West is during the day when Solar is the most effective.

Better Computers allow us to use Waste for Base Load, and various renewables for Peak.

Incredible R&D going on right now in Energy, esp. biofuels where $3.00/gal gasoline has sent a powerful price signal that "Now's the Time."

Half of the Scientists that have ever lived are working TODAY, and half of them, it seems, are working on "Energy." Look for amazing things in the years ahead.

[Matt]

There is also the automotive X prize: http://auto.xprize.org/ with a reward for a 100 MPG (or equivalent) vehicle that people will want to buy.

[Bill]

America has over 20 pumped storage hydroelectric plants that serve to store excess electricity for use during peak periods. The way they work is during times of low usage, they run pumps to move water between reservoirs. During peak, it'll act as a standard hydroelectric plant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity