I was half watching a TV program, because either it was dull or I got stuck on the statement that "We can't store electricity." I keep asking myself, "Why not?" So why not now, or will this never be possible (so that I can try to solve another challenge)?

I found a two-part article on this subject at website called Blogging the Green: Storing Electricity Complicates Everything & Part 2 by Shawn Hendriks.

While the author's list of storage methods includes pumped water, compressed air, and thermal (depending on the scale), his conclusion states that

quote:

...batteries are still the best answer for onsite residential power storage. I find this a little scary considering how little improvement there has been in this area over the last few decades.

Batteries are expensive and hardly 'green' to manufacture.

"...considering how little improvement there has been in this area over the last few decades."

I have to wonder how old the author is. Does anyone else remember hearing aids with batteries the size of a deck of cards? Cell phones the size of a brick? (See the Movie Wall Street for a beautiful example.) Auto batteries were sold with 24 month warranties. They haven't gotten smaller, but they last quite a bit longer and are worked a great deal more. Today's electric autos would not be possible were it not for the advances in batteries in the last decade.

Batteries have gotten better (Lithium-ion was a nice development) but not as dramatically as the way electronics has shrunk -- requiring less space and less power, which are the main reasons for hearing aids and cell phones miniaturizing.

No battery can store an energy density (by volume or by weight) anywhere close to that of gasoline. It would take a real breakthrough in battery technology to make electric cars as convenient as internal combustion vehicles. Battery research needs a way bigger R&D budget.

quote:

Originally posted by Professor:
No battery can store an energy density (by volume or by weight) anywhere close to that of gasoline. It would take a real breakthrough in battery technology to make electric cars as convenient as internal combustion vehicles. Battery research needs a way bigger R&D budget.

Professor: It appears that you answered by prior question in this forum: "McCain $300-Million Battery," which asks:

"What exactly must a car battery do for its design to be worth $300,000,000? I want to see if I should keep my eyes open for any such contest and prize!"

Truly, I expected that you would answer this question and that I would tell you that I am back to concentrating on the McCain $300-Million Battery challenge. However, it seems that I should not neglect the disappointing delvings which you cited: "pumped water, compressed air, and thermal." This list reminds me of all the TV programs I watch (which go in one of my ears and out the other one of my ears) on new energy replacement sources.

I guess I missed your question about the McCain battery challenge.

It's my dream that humanity will develop nuclear fusion within the next century -- presumably ending our dependence on fossil fuels forever, without polluting the environment with radioactive material as in conventional nuclear power. Unfortunately I've never heard a single politician talk about committing serious funding for fusion research.

So you think the politicians have gone fission rather than devote their energy into developing a mcuh safer nuclear power?

Politicians are always in it for short-term gain and glory. How many politicians are willing to invest in technology that will only benefit their grandchildren or later generations?

"Nuclear" invariably means fission, because that's what already works & the only kind of nuclear we know how to do. Americans, Russians, & Europeans have been tinkering with fusion since the 1960s or earlier, but progress has been slow because (1) it's not easy to duplicate conditions in the sun's core in a lab here on earth; and (2) there has been a paucity of funding compared to other big-energy technologies.

I always laugh when I watch Back To The Future & see Doc dumping his trash into the "Mr. Fusion" device (the size of a small coffee maker) to power his flying car. And that's supposed to take place in the year 2015.

My interest level in fusion is high, however, because there's enough deuterium in a bucket of ocean water to -- in principle -- power a city for a year!

Professor: What is fusion supposed to be and is not yet?