Negative electricity prices occurred in Switzerland for a few hours the other day - just a few months after electricity prices reached absolute record highs. Private consumers in Switzerland, however, do not benefit directly from the novel phenomenon.

On windy and sunny Sundays, when wind turbines and photovoltaic systems produce a lot of electricity but little is needed, European electricity prices, and thus also Swiss prices, temporarily fall into the red.

  • @[email protected]
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    1 year ago

    The efficiency of batteries is nowhere near enough for them to be applicable at this scale. That’s why we have pumped hydro storage or (questionable) start-ups like EnergyVault that uses cranes and concrete blocks as a means of storing energy.

      • @[email protected]
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        11 year ago

        I mean most start-ups seem like scams to get investor money. Of course hydro pump storage is good but also those pipes up a hill/mountainside can ruin the view more than some wind turbines would.

        • @[email protected]
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          11 year ago

          And these concrete brik towers are better looking? Need less maintenance? Don’t produce tons of CO2 because they’re made from concrete?

          According to their website, one tower could safe about the power generated by one wind turbine. That’s ridiculous. People already complain about wind turbines and now we want to build equal amounts of concrete towers?

          If towers are so awesome, couldn’t we just fill them with water? That’s cheaper and better for the environment.

          • @[email protected]
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            11 year ago

            You’ve got the wrong impression that I said that in defense of concrete towers. I wouldn’t like having that in the backyard either and they seem terribly inefficient.

            A water tower is a good idea! I mean if people accept those huge grain silos in cities, one filled with water would also work. That way we could have storage closer to consumers and protect landscapes.