Plastic Bags Could Store Excess Wind Energy On The Ocean Floor
By Nick April 6, 2008
Broadband technology was polished through a long series of “trial and error” experiments. Scientists are now using the same approach in harnessing the power of wind energy. We always had a problem with excess wind energy and to be more specific, researchers never found a good way to store the surplus of wind energy. Currently, excess wind energy is stored in huge underground tanks. This technique is called Compressed Air Energy Storage and Seamus Garvey, an UK professor at the Nottingham University, thinks that he might have the perfect solution for this matter.
The study of Prof. Garvey began two years ago and he discovered that using a wind turbine, he could compress the air. His idea consists of a structure situated at a depth of 600 meters which will contain plastic bags that will stow about 25 Megajoules of energy per meter cubed.
For the moment there are only two places where you can find CAES, one is in McIntosh, Alabama and the other is in Huntorf, Germany. Prof. Garvey hopes that his idea will be promoted because for the future there many economic advantages.
Topics: Research |
2 Responses to “Plastic Bags Could Store Excess Wind Energy On The Ocean Floor”
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Hey Nick, great post. I’m allow about conserving energy, especially now that I have a 3 year old son. I want the earth to be around long enough for him to at least experience it. But I just don’t understand one something. How is conserving the excess wind energy going to help the planet out? Please advise.
@ Melvin
One of the greatest problems with wind power is that the energy is often generated at the wrong time. Usually you would get the best winds throughout the summer and a lot less of it during the winter, meanwhile your energy demand is multiple times larger wintertime. Having your own smallscale wind turbine at home would probably mean sa couple of cubic meters of batteries in your garage but when we’re talking big scale energy batteries are just not an option considering the amount needed.
Wind turbines are usually said to generate more than 80 times the energy that is used in its production, maintenance and scrapping meaning it is really, really sustainable. The problem with excess energy during some periods is however a big one and if this is not solved, the technology development within wind power might just come to an halt.
This is at least one reason why these plastic bags can help the earth, I’m sure there are more…