PowerSwitch

Wrexham: Opponents' explosion fears at planned energy site:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67333075

Green fields or batteries ?

Batteries, and other energy storage technologies seem unavoidable if we are to make greater use of renewable energy.
I do however share the concerns of the residents, lithium ion batteries are a bit risky and I would not want a large one near me.

adam2 wrote: ↑09 Nov 2023, 15:19 Batteries, and other energy storage technologies seem unavoidable if we are to make greater use of renewable enrgy.
I do however share the concerns of the residents, lithium ion batteries are a bit risky and I would not want a large one near me.

What about other energy storage mechanisms such as flywheels or using really heavy weights that are raised during surplus energy periods such as excessive wind and then discharged when needed?

Flywheels have been used for short term storage, often to power high energy physics experiments that require short term power inputs beyond the capability of the grid. Capital costs and losses rule out bulk or long term storage. Flywheels show some promise for very short term storage, to assist with grid stability.
Weights being raised to store energy and then lowered to supply the energy are uneconomic, do the maths and see just how little energy can be stored.

Pumped storage and batteries are the only proven technologies for affordable bulk energy storage.

Batteries can respond almost instantly, less than a second. Pumped storage responds in some seconds, up to a minute.