And what if the key to the accumulation of solar energy is not on roofs or batteries, but hidden deep under the waves?
This is exactly what researchers at the German Fraunhofer Institute are exploring, and plans are planned to submerge the huge concrete spheres in the ocean, offering a sea -based alternative to the Earth’s hungry energy solutions.
The famous Institute of the Stenaa (stored energy in the sea) investigates how deep -sea pressure can be used to store energy in a short or medium -term period.
Since 2011 The team focused on installing giant hollow concrete realms hundreds of feet under the ocean surface to check this new wall, the new atlas said in a statement.
Spheres protect the sun’s waves
The empty sphere acts as a fully charged storage device. When its valve opens, the sea water flows inside, driving a turbine connected to a generator that feeds on the network electricity. To charge, the water is pumped back to the surrounding pressure using energy from the network.
The Institute conducted successful tests in the Constance of the European Lake. Fraunhofer
Each sphere is about 30 feet (9 meters) in diameter, weighs 400 tonnes and is attached to a depth of 1,970 to 2,625 feet (600-800 meters) to optimal efficiency.
After successfully testing a smaller model in the Constance of the European Lake at the Rhine River, the Fraunhofer plans until 2026. By the end of the end of $ 4 million, the US Department of Energy project deployed a total of 3D printed prototype on the Long Bych, California shore.
This unit is expected to generate 0.5 megawatts and keep 0.4 megawatts for about two weeks so that the average US household can feed the average US household.
The Institute set an ambitious goal to further expand this technology to control much larger spheres, approaching 100 feet (30 meters).
Energy accumulation beast?
Fraunhofer researchers estimate that the Stenaa system can offer a huge global energy storage capacity of about 817,000 gigawatts to enable nearly 75 million houses in Germany, France and the UK throughout the year.
The Institute designs storage costs for about 5.1 cents (4.6 euro cents) per kilowatt -hour, and the initial investment costs of almost $ 177 (€ 158) per kilowatt -hour. These estimates are based on a model storage park with six spheres supplying 30 megawatts and the total storage power of 120 megawatts.
The Institute plans until 2026. At the end of the 19th century, deployed a total of 3D printed prototype at Long Bych, California, shore. Fraunhofer.
According to Fraunhofer, the Stensea spherical repository is particularly suitable for stabilization of power grids, frequency control and operating stocks. It also supports arbitration – the electricity purchase process when prices are low and sells it when prices are peak – a strategy used mostly by network operators, utilities and energy traders.
In the long run, Stenaa could compete with the traditional pumped hydro -storage as a measure to consider excess electricity without the use that there is no valuable land in its favor.
Unlike the pump storage, which depends on whether there are two reservoirs in different ups to move the water through turbines, the underwater spheres of Stenaa can be used in several places around the world, allowing for high storage potential.
Although the pump storage facility is still cheaper and a little more efficient throughout the cycle, the flexibility and extent of the Stenaa can turn it into a vital component of future energy networks.