A huge “water battery” has been launched in the Swiss Alps (4 photos + 2 videos)

Solar and wind energy is the future, but these sources energy depends on different weather conditions. And where to store additional energy generated by solar panels on a summer day or windmills when the ocean breeze blows? "Water Battery" it is a proven and reliable method of energy storage. Huge swiss The pumped storage power plant, known as Nantes-de-Drans, is finally up and running, and this is a look into the future of energy storage.





For the past 14 years, builders have been hard at work completing this ambitious project. They started by tunneling 18 kilometers long, connecting the Emosson and Vieux Emosson in Valais, Switzerland. Through these tunnels they dragged building materials to build an elegant arched dam, holding the top layer of water. Powerful turbines were installed inside. After many years of hard work, the Nantes-de-Drance system now works. At turbines used to generate electricity produce 900 MW electricity, which is enough to power 900,000 homes.










So, how does this water battery work? When needed save excess energy, it is used to pump water from from the bottom tank to the top - the process is similar to charging a battery. The water then remains at the top of the system until energy is needed - up to 20 million kWh of energy can be stored there. The water is then channeled back down, passing through massive turbines. They rotate to "collect" the stored energy. Thus, simple physics has become the solution to the renewable energy storage problem.

This technology has been used for centuries in Switzerland. Water batteries are also found in other countries such as the US and China. Despite technological breakthroughs in other types of batteries, the classic water battery may be the best - and possibly the most beautiful - a solution to the problem of energy storage.