1. Storage
The Key to
Renewable Energy

2. Global electricity demand
Photovoltaic [MWp]

3. Global Photovoltaic Power
1998 : 0.003%
Today : 0.5%
2028 : 50% ?

4. Most modules:
Germany
Highest
production:
China
Most installed
2011: Italy
Best cell Largest power
efficiency: USA plant: India
Photovoltaic is Global
We have a problem: Storage

5. Solar power
Power demand
Conventional sources

6. existing storage
capacity (Germany)

7. We need storage
• low price per kWh
• high efficiency
• small footprint

8. Batteries
low price per kWh 200$/kWh
high efficiency
small footprint

9. Power to Gas
low price per kWh
high efficiency 25%
small footprint
Wikipedia

10. Pumped Hydro
low price per kWh
high efficiency
small footprint
Wikipedia

11. My new Idea:
Hydraulic Hydro Storage

15. r
l=2r
h=r

16. mass ~ r³ r
height ~ r
storage capacity:
r
E = 2 * mρ**h 4
~gπg l=2r
building costs:
b ~ r² h=r
costs per kWh~1/r²

17. mass ~ r³ r
height ~ r
storage capacity:
E = 2 π mρ**h 4
~g* g r l=2r
building costs:
b ~ r² h=r
costs per kWh~1/r²

18. double the radius
the price goes down to a
quarter

19. Cliffs
300m 1000m
80m
Risin og Kellingin, Färöern (Heindl/Pustlauck) Salto Ángel, Venezuela (Wikipedia)

20. Sealing
detail
metal
Surface
sealing
to keep
rock dry
sealing ring
10 bar per O-ring

24. Business model
Buy cheap power
Wait
Sell expensive power

25. Big Business
The energy in a fully charged
500 m radius system
is worth 160 million US $!

26. Hydraulic Hydro Storage
 low price per kWh
 high efficiency
 small footprint

27. Renewable
Energy
+
Storage
Clean + Sustainable Future