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What do hexbears think about pumped hydropower storage? (hexbear.net)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by TankieTanuki@hexbear.net to c/science@hexbear.net

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To make solar power viable, we need a solution for overnight energy storage.

Batteries are complicated.

Do you know what isn't? Water go up. stonks-up

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[–] pooh@hexbear.net 15 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Personally I think we should put big weights on pulleys in every high rise, like a grandfather clock.

How big? Seems like you would need quite a bit of weight to store any useful amount. Using this calculator: https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/physics/gravitational-potential.php and assuming my values are right, if you had something the size of a bus (16,000 kg) pulled up through something as tall as the Empire State Building (380 m roof height), you'd get about 16.56 kWh, which isn't all that much. I think a typical EV battery size is about 40 kWh in comparison. With hydro storage on the other hand, you can store a shit ton of water in a reservoir without any major constraints besides the overall size, which is massive.

[–] kristina@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

Plus side if youre in a rainy region you get extra energy