In the Pacific Northwest, strong winds can create such a surplus of energy through wind turbines that federal agencies sometimes force owners to cut off their output, making wind turbine companies miss valuable opportunities for power creation.
A new solution for storing this energy may come from an unsuspected source, according to National Geographic. Government research has suggested volcanic rocks found deep in the Earth’s crust could be used to store excess energy created from wind power, enough to power 85,000 homes per month and potentially saving millions of dollars.
The BPA and Department of Energy have suggested basalt reservoirs in Washington could be harnessed using a system called compressed air energy storage, where air would be transported using surplus energy. When demand for that energy rises, the air would then be released in a way that could turn a turbine, creating more power.
While two sites, one in Germany and one in Alabama, already use this air storage system, they store their energy in salt caverns cleared out by solution mining. In the Northwest, the air would be stored in volcanic rock able to contain air. In addition, at least one site would use geothermal energy instead of natural gas to heat stored air, relieving the environment.
More efficient use of turbines
About 13 percent of the region’s power supply comes from wind turbines, about the same amount as eight nuclear power plants, the Electric Power Research Institute’s energy storage program manager, Haresh Kamath, told the news source. But the new innovation doesn’t need to stop in the Pacific Northwest.
Locations including Northern Ireland and Germany have salt deposits that are currently aimed to be used in similar ways, while more areas in California are currently being tested for their abilities to hold air. A decade ago, Des Moines, Iowa was seen as another location to harness wind power, but was not able to be successfully used.
Storing energy from wind turbines in these rocks could be done for as long as several months as a time, the news source said, but even storing the energy for 12 hours could be largely beneficial. When energy needs to be used during downtime, not only does it bring less revenue in for the companies selling it, but saving it for higher-demand times could save energy while raising profits.
Britain plans for big railway change
Meanwhile, Britain’s railways could see a major change in how their energy is formed. If an upcoming trial is successful in the country, as much as 70 percent of its trains’ power could be powered by wind turbines located along their tracks, according to The Energy Collective.
Using a new form of vertical axis turbine, the project could be revolutionary for the country, as the new turbines could also be placed in urban environments, transforming much of the nation’s electricity use overall. The turbines can operate in narrow corridors and are not affected by changes in weather or wind direction.
Keeping a renewed focus on testing facilities to further improve wind turbine efficiency could lead to a lower cost of ownership in the long run for companies interested in harnessing new energy.