FinndBors t1_irwmv5p wrote on October 11, 2022 at 4:21 PM

Reply to comment by platoprime in Geothermal May Beat Batteries for Energy Storage: Enhanced geothermal systems are well suited to store excess renewable power as heat. by filosoful

Water storage requires favorable geography.

platoprime t1_irwo399 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 4:29 PM

It doesn't require it. You can create closed loop systems and dig a hole.

FinndBors t1_irwtpan wrote on October 11, 2022 at 5:06 PM

This video from Real Engineering covers a lot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSgd-QhLHRI

It touches upon a lot of these issues. There are many solutions, some are being explored.

sunsparkda t1_irx0om5 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 5:50 PM

Digging a hole that has enough volume to store significant gravity based energy storage and won't collapse in on itself when the bottom reservoir is empty raises the price for it, both construction and maintenance. Presumably enough to make geothermal storage cost competitive.