How Can We Store Excess Renewable Energy? | Engineering The Future

Windmills and solar panels are not "green'. Solar panels contain lots of toxic chemicals and windmills consume large amounts of land, steel, copper, concrete and composite for the blades while producing only small amounts of energy. And now we are suddenly being told that we need these giant storage facilities for 'green' energy, which we never were told about before. Batteries are bad for the environment - they require massive mining operations which are very "dirty". Why weren't we told about batteries before? Answer: Because environmentalists will never tell you the truth up front, but only when it is too late.

Batteries!

What would be the cost of such systems vs traditional?

为什么在戈壁沙漠进行大规模可再生能源投资比股票市场刺激更可持续，且对国家安全至关重要

在寻求可持续发展的过程中，中国通过在戈壁沙漠投资太阳能、风能和沙电池等大规模可再生能源项目，能够实现长期的稳定、能源安全和经济效益。这种方法与短期的股票市场刺激不同，不仅能够减少对进口石油的依赖，降低碳排放，还支持环境保护，并且能带来可观的经济回报。以下是关键理由：

1. 能源安全：减少对石油进口的依赖

中国是全球最大的石油进口国，每年在进口石油上花费大约 1.5万亿美元。这使得中国高度依赖国际能源市场，极易受到价格波动和地缘政治风险的影响。2022年，中国石油进口的年度开支约为 1.5万亿美元，这给国家带来了巨大的财政负担。在战争时期，海上封锁可能会轻易切断关键的石油供应，动摇国家的稳定。通过转向国内的可再生能源，特别是在戈壁沙漠的太阳能和风能，中国可以减少这种依赖，确保稳定的能源供应。

此外，沙电池技术能够通过加热沙子来储存过剩的能源，进一步增强能源安全。戈壁沙漠丰富的沙资源使得沙电池成为储存可再生能源的理想选择，特别是在能源发电较低的时期。一个典型的沙电池筒仓可以储存大约 210万兆焦耳（MJ） 的能量，使用约 5000吨 的沙子，温度可达 500°C。

2. 成本效益：太阳能和风能相较于煤炭和石油

可再生能源正变得比传统化石燃料更具成本效益。2022年，中国的大规模太阳能发电成本在 每兆瓦时20至30美元 之间，而煤炭发电的成本约为 每兆瓦时60至70美元。特别是在像戈壁沙漠这样风力资源丰富的地区，风能的成本也已经低于基于石油的发电。

目前，中国每年在煤炭和石油进口上支出大约 2000亿美元，这加剧了对化石燃料的依赖，并使经济面临更大的风险。随着全球能源市场日益不稳定，向可再生能源转型将有助于减少这一经济负担。

3. 宁夏的战略位置：可再生能源与AI枢纽

宁夏靠近戈壁沙漠，是发展可再生能源和人工智能（AI）的战略中心。其接近丰富的太阳能和风能资源，再加上优越的高铁交通连接，使其成为管理和分配可再生能源的理想地区。该地区的工业基础也支持能源生产和AI驱动的能源管理系统。

4. 经济增长、就业创造与GDP影响

在戈壁沙漠的可再生能源投资将创造 1000万至1200万个 工作岗位，特别是在建设、运营和维护方面。这些岗位将为可再生能源行业提供高薪工作，惠及农村和城市地区。

• 就业创造：在未来 10年内，5万亿美元 的投资将创造大约 2000万个 直接和间接的工作岗位，涵盖建设、运营、维护和研究领域。这些岗位涵盖了可再生能源系统的安装、沙电池技术、电动车制造和支持性产业，如交通、基础设施和供应链。
• GDP增长：每年在可再生能源基础设施上投资 1万亿美元 将显著促进中国的GDP增长。在五年内，这种投资可以通过可再生能源行业的预期产出，增加大约 5万亿美元 的GDP。

经济影响计算：

• 每年 1万亿美元 的投资将通过就业创造、制造业、基础设施发展和可再生能源技术出口，产生约 3000至4000亿美元 的GDP增长。
• 开发全球可再生能源出口市场每年可以贡献约 4800亿美元 的能源出口收入，进一步推动GDP增长。

5. 环境可持续性：减少碳排放和沙尘暴

在戈壁沙漠进行大规模的可再生能源开发可以显著减少中国的碳排放，帮助该国实现到2060年碳中和的目标。此外，风力涡轮机还可以作为屏障，减少北方中国地区频繁发生的沙尘暴的频率和强度，保护农业和基础设施，每年节省数十亿美元的损害和健康成本，同时促进环境可持续性。

6. 电动车：推动对清洁能源的需求

随着电动汽车市场的快速增长，对电力的需求将显著增加。电动车比传统的汽油车更加环保和经济，因为它们依赖于清洁能源而非化石燃料。通过大规模投资可再生能源基础设施，中国不仅可以满足这种不断增长的需求，还能减少对石油的依赖，支持碳减排目标。

7. 沙电池：更安全、更可靠、且更具成本效益的能源存储解决方案

沙电池通过加热沙子储存热能，然后可以将其转化为电力或用于供暖。一台 5000吨沙电池 可以储存约 210万兆焦耳（MJ） 的能量，利用戈壁沙漠丰富的沙资源进行长期储能。

与熔盐电池的比较：

• 安全性：沙电池比传统的锂电池或熔盐电池更安全，因为沙子是不可燃且化学性质稳定的。锂电池在过热时可能会起火，而沙电池即使在高温下也能保持稳定，减少风险。
• 可靠性：沙电池具有卓越的耐用性，能够在加热和冷却过程中反复使用而不退化，确保长期的可靠性。相比之下，熔盐电池容易腐蚀，导致更高的维护成本。
• 成本效益：沙电池比锂电池和熔盐电池更具成本效益。沙子是一种丰富且廉价的资源，建造沙电池系统所需的基础设施（如耐火混凝土）相对简单且成本较低。这使得沙电池成为大规模储能的经济选择，尤其是在戈壁沙漠这样拥有丰富沙资源的地区。

8. 国家安全：电动车与应急系统

通过可再生能源驱动的电动军用车辆和应急系统将带来显著的战略优势。在石油短缺或海上封锁的情况下，电动车将确保军事和应急操作的持续性，增强中国的国家安全。

9. 空中取水：为农业提供可再生能源

可再生能源还可以用于驱动大气水生成器（AWG），通过风能或太阳能将空气中的水分冷凝。这些清洁水资源可以用于戈壁沙漠等干旱地区的灌溉，将原本贫瘠的土地转变为肥沃的农业用地，提升粮食安全。

10. 中国作为净能源出口国

通过充分利用戈壁沙漠的可再生能源潜力，中国可以从全球最大的石油进口国转变为 净能源出口国。由太阳能和风能农场生产的多余能源可以出售给邻国，创造额外收入，增强中国作为清洁能源领袖的地缘政治影响力。

5万亿美元投资的能源生产：

通过 5万亿美元 的投资，中国可以在未来十年内增加大约 4000吉瓦 的太阳能和风能发电能力。这将每年产生约 8万太瓦时（TWh） 的清洁电力。按照全球电价约 每兆瓦时60美元 的价格计算，这将每年产生约 4800亿美元 的能源出口收入。结合从化石燃料进口中节省的成本，这将进一步提升中国的经济地位。

11. 满足中国的能源需求

5万亿美元 的投资将使中国满足 100% 的能源需求。目前，中国的总能源消耗约为 6000太瓦时（TWh）。通过增加 8万TWh 的可再生能源，中国将完全摆脱对化石燃料的依赖。这将每年节省大约 1.5万亿美元 的石油进口开支，而多余的可再生能源还可以出口带来额外收入。

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We can’t store meaningful amounts of energy for meaningful amounts of time which is why alternative energy is the most inefficient and expensive way to attempt to power a nation. All alternative energy requires fossil fuel or nuclear back up these systems must be running so you get expensive duplication of energy systems. It’s pretty nuts and isn’t going to make a dent in changing any climate patterns real or imaginary!!

Regarding the Swiss gravity battery, I look at its construction with envy. We could never do something like that in America anymore.

Quite simple, use the excess power to pump water back up into the hydro dams ! 😊

Thank you President Obama ⚡️

why water not reserve in this area!

You called for water!

Why these not constructed fully!

We are not support Gold also!

Like an core!

That"s also false!

That"s also reflaction!

Please on turbine?

what"s about polluted coal!

why this rotate unstable

Say about sollution

I KNOW THE ANSWER...BUT U WON'T DO IT...PUT A SOLAR POWER SYSTEM ON THE ROOF OF EVERY HOME IN AUSTRALIA EVERY ROOF. SOME ARE ALREADY.

It is all a scam - pump storage is a proven storage system. IMO

My solution is to have a balanced grid to start with. Use the excess power generated to power desalination plants and brine processing plants. From the sodium extracted you manufacture sodium ion batteries on a large scale. With enough batteries made you can build industrial scale power storage and transition to 90% green energy in time.

The visuals in this presentation are irrelevant. Only the audio is necessary pace the graphic for the damns.

There was no mention of using excess energy to create green hydrogen. And there are places where resarch into Power2X technologies is underway.

China = Building 40 GWh of Batteries for 2024

just buy them from China. CATL makes excellent Energy Storage!

Any dam can be used as pump hidro, jus install solar and direc wind pumps

The same tyoe if energy storage in Austraila is going in to massive cost overruns.

What's missing here in my opinion is discussion on how to adapt the demand side, like building houses in such a way that they don't need as much cooling and can stay cool for longer (so you could run the AC during the day while the sun is out, and then not need to during the night because your house "stores the cold"). I notice that a lot of modern houses (especially in the US) don't even have retractable awnings!

Storing energy always incurs losses, so you want to organize everything to minimize the amount you need. You can do that with demand response (basically, telling things that use a lot of energy to wait for a bit), better interconnects to make sure the electricity can be sent to where it's needed, and ensuring the optimal mix of different energy sources (there's more sun during the day and in summer, and more wind at night and in winter).

Switzerland: We have all this highly distributed energy, so let's build a centralized battery. 😏

Im hyped about ESS's Iron flow battery. (Full disclosure I invested a bit, but only because I was genuinely hyped about it. )

I love pump storage!

... by storing the excess energy in homes... Seriously. Its not that difficult to add a battery bank in a home to store power in off times like at night when solar doesn't work, or in the doldrums when wind isn't blowing...

Its decentralized, meaning you don't waste money with having to over regulate it and hiring government middlemen to be trained and train others, and handle the ridiculous and superfluous paperwork that could have all been circumvented by just... Doing it privately.

Decentralize it.

Now that we are experiencing extreme droughts and heavy rains, pumped storage power generation will likely reach its limits.
I'm an electrical engineer and have an idea for a gravity power generation system that takes into account cases where solar and wind power generation is low.
Because Japan has many earthquakes, this idea envisages sending electricity to a minimum number of institutions such as hospitals and government offices even if there is a power outage after a disaster.
I think California would be suitable as well, as there is a risk of earthquakes in the country.
I previously approached Mitsubishi Electric about collaborating through the Ministry of the Environment, but have not heard back.
I now think it would be OK to disclose this idea to people in other countries as long as they are in a trustworthy position.
Icon's device is a self-funded and patented passive cooling device.
I don't have any funds, but I have an idea, and I am serious about the environment.

« More energy storage in the grid » etc …..is WHERE the mental blockage of electricians starts…: energy means power generated at a given place and time to the power charges, all kinds, stationnary, domestic, commercial, industrial and mobiles for transport.
The link, the grid, the network, the distribution of power between energy supply and energy loads AND the load charges as well…Diesel, Ev or H2 vehicles for instances have to be BOTH adapted to new powers generated and the new powers supplies, NOT THE REVERSE…adapting the power supply and network to this huge new heat pumps and BEV additional loads for instance…this require way too much polluting grey energy: if all this supplemental power MUST anyway BE renewable for the salute of the planet, then a specific power distribution and adapted loads population must be optimised for low economical cost and low grey energy, good sociability and biospheric compatibility…For instance, when railways were electrified due lack of coal and inefficiencies, our wise predecessors did no put a resistance in the boiler and a pantograph on the cab of steam locos to find out there was three time not enough hydroelectric energy to power such poor steam cycle…No!!! They produced efficient electric locomotives converting directly E-Power into displacement….and NOW it would be ABSOLUTELY insane if surface renewable solar and wind power is present all over and abundant (solar radiation amounts to 1500 times all the humans power consumed and wind almost as well), to transport this energy elsewhere with powerlines joules losses or pipelines friction losses to another place where it could also be produced!!! This clean energy must be stored and distributed (not transmitted) where it is produced AND the mobility loads, huge and with long range storage capability must be loaded at specific locations to balance the system with a competitive offer and demand fair market and a single real time android apps…..this is where fuel cells and combustion of renewable synthetic zero CO2 gases, H2, CH4 and NH3 easely stored, compressed , liquified locally where needed can replace an ugly power network and cumbersome electrochemical reversible chemistry of batteries, which is dirty, hard to recycle and not endurant nor durable enough. Synthetic gases energy is used with with much LESS grey energy than massive copper aluminium network and lithium storage mining nonsense plus lake evaporation wastes…for instance storing a full season one kWh of H2 in a COPV bottle with zero energy loss cost hundreds times less than storing a similar kWh in a most durable LFP battery only a few day with joule losses: one is adapted variable seasonal unpredictable renewables, the other not !!!
Then, the selected renewable system efficiency is not the major issue (essentially a foot print issue only) because sun and wind are free of charge so the major cost is therefore the grey poluting energy of a still dirty civilisation . The real issue per MJ or kWh provided at the right place and right time is the COST and planet impact of that power provided,,while anyway system losses such as high enthalpy heat and pure oxygen have also good commercial values all year long for heating cooling hot water medical,welding etc..
At the same time, without ONE unique electrical and ONE gas nerwork and the same fuel at all gas stations etc, this marks the end of a monopolistic stronghold of the very few biggest fortunes of this word on energy ressources and energy supply at retail level, monopoles finger printed by the huge gap from production cost to retail selling price. THIS is what the current power network and fossil lobby is NOT giving up and willing to kill the planet instead, with all sort of abusive arguments for naïves politicians : nuts aren’t green but our green are nuts! 😂

Just produce Hydrogen

Who can predict when the sun goes down?

...Or just go nuclear

I would love to work in such site.

Solution for pumping water is limited to certain places with specific type of geography. Also have a feeling that a lot of energy is wasted

The problem with the storage of energy points to the problem of congestion caused by curtailment that occurs with intermittent variables.
The solution for a constant and variable energy source is using a solar hydrogen energy recovery gas turbine as a constant variable.

The process uses the suns nuclear fusion that has a 5-billion-year supply of solar energy to produce hydrogen which is the most universally inexhaustible abundant of elements.

This hydrogen is than used to generate a higher, more stable energy output up to 1300Mw but governed between 86-330Mw to manage grid stability and avoid renewable energy zones.

The process is similar to a nuclear fusion reactor. However, instead of achieving nuclear fusion at extremely high temperature (150 million degrees Celsius) this system achieves and maintains Ignition at much lower temperatures. It doing so it uses an energy output that exceeds the energy input required to start and sustain the reaction.

The operating complex requires an area the size of a football field.

The hydrogen power generating turbine has three operational parts, 3.0m in diameter 5.5m long weighs 6 ton has a 14-year continuous life cycle and incorporates direct air capture of CO2 at 1,400 Kg/sec. The cost is $36.5 to 49.5 million being significantly less than an equivalent 330Mw nuclear reactor, solar or wind farm.

Wow only took you 7mins off babbling until you got to the point of the video. Why do you all insist on giving 30 years of history of a topic until you get to what the video is really about FFS.

Flipping heck there’s no info in this video! It’s all marketing and drama!

Just one word nuclear

Don't blame the failure to design a proper power grid on the weather.

laser beam it back into the sun