Thumbs Up for Green Energy Storage: Energy Storage Technology Articles: Eco20/20

Thumbs Up for Green Energy Storage

Now that the world is learning to end its dependence on fossil fuels, technology is being quickly developed that generates energy in eco friendly ways. This surplus green energy has to be stored in a cost effective, environmentally safe manner. One of the keys to successful green energy storage is to create technologies that are safe as well as practical.

Solar power and wind power are proven alternatives to coal for green energy. Even the most adamant critics realize that these options are not only good for the environment, but save money that consumers and businesses spend on utility costs. The further challenge has been to store the energy so that it is available on cloudy days with little wind. Companies have risen to this challenge with technologies, equipment and methods that harvest, store and distribute this energy.

Wind Power

Rapid advances in technology have resulted in wind power approaching grid parity. What this means is that electricity using wind power can be generated for about the same cost as coal generated power. The production of millions of watts in electricity creates the need for large scale, cost effective energy storage. This is actually a welcomed challenge. All indications are that green energy storage technologies are proving to be successful and that even more are very close to completion.

The Iowa Stored Energy Park, for instance, recently chose an underground location to store compressed air. The equipment required for this operation will in large part be modified equipment previously used to store natural gas. Another example of new technology for green storage is the progress of General Compression, a green technology developer. This company recently received $5 million dollars toward the development of a system that is able to generate energy from wind turbines using compressed air, which eliminates the need for wind.

Solar Power

Ausra is a developer of solar steam generators which provide low cost electricity without emissions. The company is proposing a solution to the basic solar energy challenges, such as cloud cover and night time availability. Ausra believes that solar/thermal power plants can be used to turn sunlight into steam. This steam can store heat which can be used on days where there is little or no sun. One reason that they believe this will work is because it is easier to store heat than electricity. Because of this, Ausra contends that the power plants could store heat at prices that are competitive with coal and natural gas.

As a testament to the feasibility of this technology, major utility companies are investing into the idea. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) signed a twenty five year deal with Solel Solar Systems to purchase power from a solar thermal plant in California. Solel Solar Systems has recently been acquired by Siemens and is currently Siemens Concentrated Solar Power, Limited. Florida Power & Light hired the same company to upgrade their solar thermal plants. In the meantime, Ausra is in negotiation with PG&E to supply the power for their future power plant.