Solar energy stored for up to 18 years.

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

What battery holds a charge for 18 years without trickle charging?

I think one kind of battery is out now that can theoretically hold for decades and is pliable technology now.

Gravity storage battery s, and they're fairly green.

Using a lifted wieght, similar in principle to hydro pumped energy storage yet useful without a mountain or reservoir.

 

[Bomby569]

Store when the load on the grid is light. As grid load increases past what can be supplied, use the stored energy to take care of the excess load until you can build a power plant to support that load. Rinse and repeat.

but that's very short term storage, at most 6 months, from one season to another, not decades.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

"They were so concerned with whether they could, they did not stop to think whether they should"

 

[R-T-B]

I think one kind of battery is out now that can theoretically hold for decades and is pliable technology now.

Gravity storage battery s, and they're fairly green.

Using a lifted wieght, similar in principle to hydro pumped energy storage yet useful without a mountain or reservoir.

Yes those have literally been around for centuries. They used to make grandfather clocks that ran on this principle.

Size limitations, etc.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

Yes those have literally been around for centuries. They used to make grandfather clocks that ran on this principle.

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[R-T-B]

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Yeah, I knew someone would still be making them when I said that. Still, mass production has stopped.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

Yeah, I knew someone would still be making them when I said that. Still, mass production has stopped.

I just realized that I forgot my sarcastic/amusing comment...

@Bomby569 does it only take 6 months to build a new power plant? If/when nuclear becomes dominant, I reckon 3 years is more like it (for larger ones at least).

 

[Bomby569]

@Bomby569 does it only take 6 months to build a new power plant? If/when nuclear becomes dominant, I reckon 3 years is more like it (for larger ones at least).

I honestly still don't get your point about a new power plant? If you have more then what you need why build another power plant.

I was saying, there is a real problem with renewables, you may have more then what you need in the day and not enough in the late afternoon or something like that, that's when we need storage, but that's very short term.
I guess it could still be a thing if you have too much in the winter and not enough in the summer, or vice versa, but again short term

Storing power because we are bulding a new power plant, i don't see what your point is?

Nuclear is not a solution, never will be, to expensive, takes ages to build a power plant, and no one wants one near them. Fusion will be a thing way before we would ever consider nuclear everywhere.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

I honestly still don't get your point about a new power plant? If you have more then what you need why build another power plant.

...

Storing power because we are bulding a new power plant, i don't see what your point is?

As a buffer, so you can deliver power to meet load over capacity. If you have X MW capacity and .98X MW load, you can fill storage. As Average load increases by say 5% as a new industrial park is built, your average load will be higher than capacity, so you add power generation capabilities (power plant, dam, solar field, etc.). The storage would supply the excess need until more generation came online.

However, the only place in North America that it would be maybe needed is Texas as their grids are comparatively small.

 

[InVasMani]

So basically a 18 year time window to store/retrieve energy that's huge. That combined with AI robotics is a big potential.

 

[Bomby569]

As a buffer, so you can deliver power to meet load over capacity. If you have X MW capacity and .98X MW load, you can fill storage. As Average load increases by say 5% as a new industrial park is built, your average load will be higher than capacity, so you add power generation capabilities (power plant, dam, solar field, etc.). The storage would supply the excess need until more generation came online.

However, the only place in North America that it would be maybe needed is Texas as their grids are comparatively small.

At least in Europe all the grid is connected (except for Iberia but that's still 2 countries connected). That's how you manage that, one place closes a factory, the other opens a factory. Big numbers management of the grid capacity. It is wasteful to be managing a grid on a local level.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Most electric utilities have smart grid tech that cuts off air conditioners and water heaters when demand is high. That's local level power management which reduces the height of the peaks.

Molten sodium acts as a battery in the Natrium reactor.

The problem with all battery tech is portability. Li-ion remains king in that regard.

I saw somewhere (can't remember where) that for a 100% renewable grid, you'd need 2 weeks worth of battery capacity. It's not really longevity that matters (especially if portability is reasonable: just replace it), but Twh/$ capacity.

I know my power utility installed two Tesla battery units on their grid to act as a short term buffer at a transfer facility. Basically prevents brown outs while natural gas turbines spool up. Can also fill any gaps in upstream generation/switching.

Fun fact: you'd only need 30% more base load electric generation in the USA to power 100% electric vehicle economy. Reason: they can charge off peak.