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What do hexbears think about pumped hydropower storage? (hexbear.net)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by TankieTanuki@hexbear.net to c/science@hexbear.net

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To make solar power viable, we need a solution for overnight energy storage.

Batteries are complicated.

Do you know what isn't? Water go up. stonks-up

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[–] CarsAndComrades@hexbear.net 31 points 2 months ago (6 children)

I've also seen a version of this that uses an electric locomotive that moves a big weight up and down a slope.

Personally I think we should put big weights on pulleys in every high rise, like a grandfather clock.

[–] TankieTanuki@hexbear.net 22 points 2 months ago

You had me at "locomotive". Name it Sisyphus.

[–] pooh@hexbear.net 15 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Personally I think we should put big weights on pulleys in every high rise, like a grandfather clock.

How big? Seems like you would need quite a bit of weight to store any useful amount. Using this calculator: https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/physics/gravitational-potential.php and assuming my values are right, if you had something the size of a bus (16,000 kg) pulled up through something as tall as the Empire State Building (380 m roof height), you'd get about 16.56 kWh, which isn't all that much. I think a typical EV battery size is about 40 kWh in comparison. With hydro storage on the other hand, you can store a shit ton of water in a reservoir without any major constraints besides the overall size, which is massive.

[–] kristina@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

Plus side if youre in a rainy region you get extra energy

[–] muix@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

How To Make Buildings Into Batteries

https://piped.video/watch?v=oCv3ygvEjFo

[–] CarsAndComrades@hexbear.net 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

That link isn't working for me:

Got error: "Sign in to confirm that you're not a bot"

Edit: is it this one? https://youtu.be/oCv3ygvEjFo

[–] HexReplyBot@hexbear.net 1 points 2 months ago

I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:

[–] JayTreeman@hexbear.net 9 points 2 months ago

That's a good idea. They already have shafts that have the capacity for big weights as well

[–] Hexboare@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

Water is overwhelmingly easier to move up and down, and you need a lot of mass to make it viable.

[–] TankieTanuki@hexbear.net 5 points 2 months ago

Could the weight be integrated with a tuned mass damper?