Adding energy storage to the electric grid is becoming a national imperative. This is especially true in places like Japan or Hawaii where you need to live on what you can generate locally. Generation includes things like wind, solar and even wave energy. How do you store excess energy so that it is available when it is needed?
Storage technology is becoming more important as we add new intermittant sources such as solar and wind power. Without energy storage in some place, the lights may go out when the wind stops blowing.
Here is a megabattery technology from Toshiba that is both large and uique in operation. Normally the grid operates at at a frequency of 50 hz. If there is access generation the frequency of transmission is allowed to go about 50 hz, triggering the battery system to convert the DC power to AC power.
How the Toshiba Megabatteries Work.
If there is not enough generation to support demand the frequency of transmission drops below 50 hz which signals the megabattery to turn the stored DC power to AC power. Ingenious right?
Of course everytime to change electric power from AC to DC and back again there are losses in the system. However with the proper arrangement of intermittant sources, megabatteries can take us all the way to 100% renewable sourced energy.
I hope you like the simple video and my explanation. Be sure to leave us comments either way.
About Gordon Smith Gordon's expertise in the area of industrial energy efficiency and alternative energy. He is an experienced electrical engineer with a Masters degree in Alternative Energy technology. He is the co-founder of several renewable energy media sites including Solar Thermal Magazine.