A German experiment proved that simple concrete spheres make fantastic batteries. Now, California plans to submerge a 9-meter diameter sphere in the ocean and is already planning versions of 30 meters (libranet.de)

submitted 5 days ago by fu@libranet.de to c/science@beehaw.org

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[-] Simulation6@sopuli.xyz 11 points 5 days ago

This is just a modified version of the pump water up a hill and generate electricity when it falls back down. There is a lot of loss in a system like this.

[-] Kache@lemm.ee 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Bit off loss is fine, esp if it's storing extra "free" renewable energy that would otherwise just be thrown away/not collected

I think article directly emphasizes the hope that it's sustainable, scalable, and available. For example, pumped hydroelectric isn't as available because it needs just the right terrain of two nearby lakes separated by as much elevation as possible

[-] Simulation6@sopuli.xyz 3 points 3 days ago

This method needs deep water, but the more possible ways to store energy the more environments that will be good.

[-] MacroCyclo@lemmy.ca 14 points 5 days ago

Looks like you only recover about 70-80% of the electricity. Much less than a chemical battery, but it's also much cheaper to build.

[-] Boomkop3@reddthat.com 12 points 5 days ago

Bonus tho: gravity doesn't degrade as much. And rocks don't contain a lot of dangerous chemicals

[-] IrritableOcelot@beehaw.org 3 points 3 days ago

These aren't relying on gravity, theyre relying on maintaining a vacuum, and concrete is extremely porous. They're obviously sealing the inside of the chamber, but basically no coatings have a lifetime of 60 years for holding vacuum.