In January 2013, Belgium announced its plan to build a horseshoe shaped "battery island" to store excess wind energy. A link to a press release about the island is included below as is another to a YouTube video.
From what I have read, this artificial island will be using Pumped Hydro Storage technology. During times of low electricity demand, excess energy derived from wind farms will be used to pump water out of the reservoir located at the center of the island. During peak load times, when electricity demand is high, water is allowed to fill the reservoir through a turbine, whereby generating electricity.
Construction was expected to take 5 to 7 years to complete.
The latest article I could find is dated 2014. Does anyone have any recent information on this project?
http://uk.reuters.com/article/belgium-island-idUKL6N0AM7GU20130117
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAkCydKv2Gc
I just browsed the Belgium new sites for the latest information on this project. At the moment, the project is halted. In October last year, the Belgian government decided to not give the permission to build the energy atol because it was to expensive. The consortium also withdrew their application for a concession. It's not clear if this is a permanent or temporary decision.
There may be both economical and technological challenges for Massive Battery Storage System with Intermittent Wind Power Generation System.
The fundamental problem with such storage devices is that G (the gravitational coupling constant) is FAR too low to allow them to store much energy in a reasonable volume/area of land. Unfortunately, if G was much bigger than it is, life on planets would be impossible. I am pleased to note that the Belgian Government acknowledges this!
Hello Prof. Tony Maine,
Great day! Thank you very much for your valuable message regarding G.
Regards,
https://www.reuters.com/article/belgium-island/belgium-plans-artificial-island-to-store-wind-power-idUSL6N0AM7GU20130117
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/belgium-wind-donut-island
http://www.energymarketprice.com/energy-news/belgium-to-build-an-artificial-island-to-store-wind-power
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/527/20130121/belgium-artificial-island-wind-energy.htm
https://www.rt.com/news/belgium-battery-island-renewable-319/
http://energystorageforum.com/news/belgium-plans-artificial-island-north-sea-store-wind-power-2
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