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Energy Storage: Costly but Key to Power Production

Forbes -- Ever wish you could just bottle up those beautiful sun shinny days? Well, some companies are trying to do just — in the context of “energy storage.” Simply, that’s a technology that allows batteries or other devices to harness the wind and sun when they are abundant and to release that energy when they are not.

That would certainly help green energy make headway into markets, overcoming the argument that they are too unreliable. However, energy storage has other assets: If proven and cost effective, it would allow utilities to avoid investments in power plants as well as in transmission and distribution. It would also permit generators to operate more efficiently because they would run closer to full capacity for longer periods of time.

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Submitted Apr 30, 2012 By: eromitlab

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,609 Points:1,608,545 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 5, 2012 4:06:46 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse finding better and longer energy storage solutions is the key to the future.
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:9,523 Points:3,078,725 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 11:14:18 PM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse Even today, we are still light years ahead of where we were even 20 years ago.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,998 Points:597,735 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:26:21 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
Blismo Champion Author Arizona Posts:2,134 Points:403,260 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 7:13:28 AM Ignore Blismo Report Abuse something needs to be done about the cost
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,718 Points:1,660,815 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 5:03:02 AM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse Yes, it is costly.
tobasco Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:7,346 Points:2,108,210 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:31:34 AM Ignore tobasco Report Abuse That is why gas is so good...energy dense and transportable.
Garyallman Veteran Author Honolulu Posts:308 Points:6,705 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:41:48 PM Ignore Garyallman Report Abuse I have already ordered a set of them, when they arrive, I will mix my electrolyte, fill the batteries, do a couple 100% depth of discharge cycles and then I will say goodbye to Hawaiian Electric co.
Garyallman Veteran Author Honolulu Posts:308 Points:6,705 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:36:02 PM Ignore Garyallman Report Abuse I do know of a source here in America, but they're extremely expensive! But your grand children will inherit them!
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:555,480 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:31:31 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Hmm
Garyallman Veteran Author Honolulu Posts:308 Points:6,705 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:28:20 PM Ignore Garyallman Report Abuse Yeah, they're called nickel iron batteries, and were invented by Thomas Alva Edison in the late 1800's, yeah too bad though, you can't buy them in America anymore. Exide bought the Edison battery company out and then they shelved the technology. Now they are discovering that they are ideal for solar electric and wind power buffering. Sort of like a chemical flywheel. They are bigger and less efficient than lead acid, but they're non toxic, and you can kill them door nail dead and they will charge back up with no damage to 100% capacity. Try that with lead acid batteries and you'll ruin your battery bank.
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:7,120 Points:1,353,810 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:27:03 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Giant storage batteries or storage cells of all type are very expensive.
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,417 Points:1,471,620 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:22:25 PM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse There are also some very innovative, inexpensive was to store energy. They don't all have to be expensive unless you are trying to get rich off of any idea that you might have.
frostyWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,339 Points:519,235 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:22:07 PM Ignore frostyWV Report Abuse ok
OGW Champion Author London Posts:5,324 Points:1,531,150 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:19:44 PM Ignore OGW Report Abuse Bigger and longer lasting storage batteries are part of the plan.
miser709 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,268 Points:1,069,050 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:18:13 PM Ignore miser709 Report Abuse Costly, that's everything these days.
Garyallman Veteran Author Honolulu Posts:308 Points:6,705 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:18:10 PM Ignore Garyallman Report Abuse Sounds like electric companies want you to not have access to these great batteries, however I know for a fact that you can buy them outside the U.S. you will never be able to purchase them here in the U.S. battery companies don't like batteries that have a 25+ year longevity, and neither do the electric companies. I don't think they are concerned though because the majority of Americans are not thinking in that direction, and could care less.
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,038 Points:1,699,625 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:17:40 PM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse You have to put it somewhere (have to save for the "rainy day").
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:2,950 Points:831,730 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:16:33 PM Ignore regout Report Abuse OK.
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,615 Points:3,493,730 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:16:31 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse Better capacitors would help.
HEBster Champion Author Kentucky Posts:8,783 Points:2,373,050 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:15:27 PM Ignore HEBster Report Abuse Guess we'll see
jkpsr Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,074 Points:1,100,930 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:15:16 PM Ignore jkpsr Report Abuse Creation of hydrogen gas would be one way to store energy.
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,305 Points:480,390 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:12:42 PM Ignore millerin Report Abuse hmmm....
jem069 Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,533 Points:686,105 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:12:10 PM Ignore jem069 Report Abuse Ok
Toppers Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,007 Points:2,469,720 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:09:52 PM Ignore Toppers Report Abuse Sounds impressive...
shores4now Champion Author Kentucky Posts:2,401 Points:522,825 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:09:34 PM Ignore shores4now Report Abuse ok
heartbroken2010 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:4,339 Points:896,560 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:06:05 PM Ignore heartbroken2010 Report Abuse ok.
Chris46 Champion Author Dayton Posts:23,662 Points:2,080,465 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:05:41 PM Ignore Chris46 Report Abuse that was a real interesting story.
Matt G Champion Author Boston Posts:4,528 Points:2,772,065 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:05:23 PM Ignore Matt G Report Abuse Ok
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,532 Points:1,857,395 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:04:29 PM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse Interesting
DriverofRed Champion Author Calgary Posts:2,173 Points:411,885 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:01:22 PM Ignore DriverofRed Report Abuse ok
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:26,896 Points:3,102,700 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:00:42 PM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse need better batteries
Shakleelady31 All-Star Author Fort Wayne Posts:571 Points:400,850 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:00:32 PM Ignore Shakleelady31 Report Abuse Interesting information.
WinderGuy Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,864 Points:931,630 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:00:10 PM Ignore WinderGuy Report Abuse Ok
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,207 Points:517,550 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:58:34 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Why do taxpayers need to pony up to make this work. Someone will get rich without taking a risk. If taxpayers are footing the bill, developers have no incentive to succeed. Just walk away when it becomes difficult.
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,984 Points:1,111,375 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:58:18 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse "Consider Celgard, a Charlotte, NC-based maker of a critical Component of lithium-ion batteries for the automotive sector: The Company, which is expanding production, received a visit from President Obama in April 2010 along with a $49 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy." Stop with the GRANTS (free money) maybe a loan that they pay back... Everyone put Solar panels on your roof and unused Volt battery for back up at night, no need for big Electric Co.... Maybe Uncle Sam will give us all a grant???
jessek Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,657 Points:1,280,490 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:56:05 PM Ignore jessek Report Abuse Just do it without subsidies.
mgune9 All-Star Author Dallas Posts:914 Points:200,395 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:54:37 PM Ignore mgune9 Report Abuse someday some researcher will stumble onto a major discovery
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,502 Points:602,520 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:50:08 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse Energy storage is costly but necessary. Wouldn't it be great to be able to share your excess? It would reduce the need for storage.
whaboush Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,233 Points:730,660 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:49:36 PM Ignore whaboush Report Abuse Like a bunch of batteries.
GLCSHADOW Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,616 Points:1,885,560 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:47:14 PM Ignore GLCSHADOW Report Abuse A long way to go to be cost effective...
browning305 Rookie Author Miami Posts:7 Points:16,180 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:45:48 PM Ignore browning305 Report Abuse you right too costly power supplier
DCbeachbum Champion Author South Carolina Posts:2,642 Points:903,740 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:43:16 PM Ignore DCbeachbum Report Abuse "By most accounts, however, energy storage is still too expensive and too untested. But some power suppliers are saying that with a little help from the federal government, the tools might make their way into the mainstream." Again with asking the Government for help. These are our tax dollars they are wanting. Lets try letting the free market work for a change.
danol43 Champion Author Modesto Posts:1,697 Points:588,180 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:42:57 PM Ignore danol43 Report Abuse Walk before you run.
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,256 Points:586,960 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:42:46 PM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse Interesting....
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,061 Points:1,730,260 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:40:31 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse that and a president who wants us to produce power
Tiernan Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,475 Points:818,850 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:39:21 PM Ignore Tiernan Report Abuse Not ready for prime time
DrCashFlow Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:7,059 Points:1,626,150 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:37:52 PM Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse still a long way from batteries being a bargain
PoohMcGoo Champion Author Alabama Posts:3,067 Points:799,835 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:36:27 PM Ignore PoohMcGoo Report Abuse Don't rush it, let the technology mature.
feistyfella All-Star Author Georgia Posts:881 Points:193,245 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:36:23 PM Ignore feistyfella Report Abuse OK.
bdlewis Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,384 Points:382,905 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:34:55 PM Ignore bdlewis Report Abuse duh