There are many types of energy storage that charge and discharge energy in different ways, including batteries, compressed air and flywheels among others. Regardless of the type, all storage technologies operate on the same general principle – charging up when electricity demand and costs are low and discharging when it’s needed most.
Current alternatives include:– Batteries: The most popular type of battery is lithium-ion. Batteries conserve energy until it is needed, which makes them a reliable and flexible source of electricity supply.– Thermal: Thermal energy storage draws electricity from the grid when demand is low and uses it to heat water, which is stored in large tanks. When needed, the water can be released to supply heat or hot water.– Flywheels: Flywheels are large, heavy wheels that draw energy from the grid to spin at high speeds. When needed, this kinetic energy can be harnessed to drive a generator to produce electricity.– Compressed Air: Compressed air uses off-peak energy to pump air into a containment area, such as an underground cavern, that can be released on demand to drive a turbine to generate electricity.– Hydrogen: Hydrogen is a clean fuel that can be produced during periods of low cost and demand, and stored in tanks for use during periods of high cost and demand. It is burned to generate electricity or used to power fuel cells in electric vehicles.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of low-carbon technologies, viable alternatives are emerging quickly. By 2030, when the pumped storage project could potentially come online, these alternatives could address the province’s energy storage needs with minimal environmental impact. We must balance impacts and benefits. It is clear that TC Energy’s pumped storage proposal lacks economic future proofing and poses a real environmental downside.