Eskom establishes energy storage facility

[Kevin Lancaster]

Eskom establishes energy storage facility

Eskom has established a first of its kind battery test and demonstration facility at its Research and Innovation Centre in Rosherville, Johannesburg.

 

[The_Librarian]

hope those batteries are too big and heavy to steal...

 

[PhireSide]

I wonder why they opted for actual chemical batteries as opposed to other storage schemes such as molten salt or pumped water schemes?

 

[Thor]

Wont hold my breath

 

[Petec]

So, basically the same thing I used to see all the time, when I used to service the fire extinguishers, at the Eskom sub and storage stations?
The rows and rows of batteries, I saw over twenty years ago... I wonder what happened to all those redundancy systems?

 

[R13...]

So, basically the same thing I used to see all the time, when I used to service the fire extinguishers, at the Eskom sub and storage stations?
The rows and rows of batteries, I saw over twenty years ago... I wonder what happened to all those redundancy systems?

I think you're mistaking UPS battery rooms with this. UPS battery systems serve a different purpose.

 

[system32]

What - no Tesla?

 

[upup]

Would rather build a dam high up and pump it full of water, then when the need arise, generate power from there.

 

[c3n0byt3]

lol Barry still hoping for local tech.

 

[richjdavies]

Would rather build a dam high up and pump it full of water, then when the need arise, generate power from there.

They do this already...
(edit - better link here: http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoin...ower_Stations_And_Pumped_Storage_Schemes.aspx
)
http://www.eskom.co.za/AboutElectricity/ElectricityTechnologies/Pages/Pumped_Storage.aspx

This is extra. Good for them to try it out at least, surely?

Batteries are more for short-term storage - i.e. within a day, accounting for daily peaks (6-9AM, 5-7PM); whereas pumped storage is more useful for more seasonal variation --> i.e. store power from summer to help with Winter (as you lose much more 1/3? with pumped storage, vs. not much lost (5-10%?) for batteries.)

 

[konfab]

Would rather build a dam high up and pump it full of water, then when the need arise, generate power from there.

Mechanical losses are much larger with pumped storage schemes. Not to mention the environmental impact of them.

 

[upup]

Is there a list, best to worst

 

[IdlePhaedrus]

I'm cynical. Eskom will do this to say the tech is not viable.

They have done this before with wind.

There are three test turbines from different manufacturers sitting midway between Malmesbury and the N1 on the R304 which I believe Eskom put up with the express purpose of debunking the technology at the time.

Now they won't even connect built farms due to 'surplus'. Yet they still want nuclear and a minimum 19% rate increase. Tossers!