A cubic meter of water above your roof has the storing capacity of a AAA cell. That's why you need huge, massive damms to store any significant amount of power. But unfortunately it's not flexible enough (you need mountains nearby) or dense enough.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

There are already companies making thermal storage systems to store excess energy. They heat sand up to about 500 degrees when there's excess power and then convert it back to electricity or just use the heat directly for heating water or living spaces.

There's also companies (googles do nothing but link to YouTube videos) working on scaling this down to about the size of a water heater.

[–] antrosapien@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 months ago (4 children)

What about storing energy as potential energy using some high density objects. This may work.. Right?? gravitricity Check out their work.

[–] amelore@slrpnk.net 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Yes, suspended weights, also spinning flywheels, hot salt, hot sand
There's options besides pumped hydro, hydrogen and batteries

[–] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 7 months ago

It's slithly better the more dense the material, but that's basically the same thing. You could say that depending on the location, using water is much more practical.

A much more interesting one I saw was the molten salt ones, where basically you store the energy as heat in a sealed place, and then when you need it, you use that heat to run turbines.

[–] shaman1093@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago

Interesting concept, thanks for sharing

[–] capital@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

I don’t think it’s feasible.

https://youtu.be/XxGQgAr4OCo