Our landscapes could be forever changed by the idea that has just appeared on the scene: turning lakes into colossal power plants. Batteries are indispensable elements in modern life, so it is not surprising that the invention to resurrect batteries and make them infinite caused a furor.
They are present in virtually every device we use: cell phones, vehicles, medical equipment, machines and so on. In simple terms, a battery is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. It consists of one or more electrochemical elements that produce an electric current through a chemical reaction.
In the market there are different types of batteries, sizes and capacities depending on the application we want to give it. From small AAA batteries used in remote controls to large lithium batteries used in electric cars. In this context, we will now focus on electric batteries, specifically those that have their origin in lakes. Seeing is believing!
Lakes will be converted into colossal power plants
For a century, hydropower has been associated with giant dams, engineering feats that deliver renewable energy but sideline communities and ravage ecosystems. Last year, the energy portal Global Energy Monitor published research revealing the intense transformation of hydropower projects.
The same gravitational qualities of water would be present, but no more traditional dams would be built. In its place would come a technology defined as ‘pumped storage’. These are systems that require two reservoirs: one at the top of a hill and one at the bottom. When the electricity produced by nearby power plants exceeds demand, it is used to pump water uphill.
This fills the upper reservoir like a battery. Then, when that demand for electricity rises, the water is released into the lower reservoir by a turbine and generates power. A different concept, but not too far from the operation of the aforementioned batteries.
Pumping storage has been discussed before
This is not a new idea, but it is a renaissance in areas where wind and solar are expanding rapidly. This helps assuage concerns about climate-related declines in renewable energy production.
Some of the largest systems generate enough power to supply two million U.S. homes for one hour. In previous years, China has had stewardship over half (roughly) of the world’s renewables growth.
According to official data, every year between now and 2030, the Asian country will grow wind and solar power, contributing more than Germany currently holds. China’s strategy of turning to pumped storage is not synonymous with a decline in coal use.
It has stopped financing coal projects abroad, but in 2022 it approved the creation of more coal plants at home. However, even with a doubling of its coal consumption, China is lowering its total energy output.
The hydroelectric power plant is throwing up more than one surprise
Data from Global Energy Monitor show that another type of hydropower technology is prevalent, especially in mountainous areas such as Nepal. Run-of-river hydropower plants are located on rivers, but do not generate giant reservoirs behind them.
Without the reservoir, power production depends on seasonal water flows, but is less damaging to the environment and less prone to tragic failures in tectonically active regions.
In conclusion, turning lakes into colossal electric batteries is a curious idea that is gaining more and more traction and could transform our landscapes. If you liked this article, don’t miss the arrival of two new hydroelectric power plants on the Nalón river, in Spain.
In the United States, there are other promising projects in this area, especially those that aim to divert water from the Great Lakes to harness hydroelectric power. The idea would be to build a reservoir at a lower altitude to generate electricity from the waterfall.
This project gained momentum in 2020, although it was halted by the pandemic. In any case, now they intend to resume it and turn them into huge power plants, which is what we have been telling you about since the headline. Don’t you think it’s an impressive idea that could change our energy landscape?
