Home  5  Books  5  GBEzine  5  News  5  HelpDesk  5  Register  5  GreenBuilding.co.uk
Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories



Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.
Buy individually or both books together. Delivery is free!


powered by Surfing Waves




Vanilla 1.0.3 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome to new Forum Visitors
 Join the forum now and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on Green Building Press publications: Apply now.




Renewable Energy: Wind Power Storage with Molten Aluminium

Bottom of Page

1 to 9 of 9

  1.  
  1.  
    In Germany (of course) they are trialling an interesting technology.

    Rather site specific - I'd hate to think it gets used as justification for an unwarranted increase in Aluminium consumption elsewhere, but quite a clever use of the metal as a storage medium:

    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-27/molten-aluminum-lakes-offer-power-storage-for-german-wind-farms.html
    • CommentAuthorSeret
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2014
     
    Are they actually exporting power, or just providing virtual storage by time-shifting their consumption? If it's just the latter it's not that novel. Aluminium production is often co-located with renewable resources in places like Iceland and New Zealand.
    • CommentAuthorringi
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2014
     
    Aluminium is very close to being solid electricity with a very low transport cost compared to the cost of the power to make it. I would question why anyone would consider making aluminium in Germany as being a “green” or sensible option.

    Iceland has close to unlimited cheap renewable electricity so is a much better location.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2014
     
    If we made more vehicles with aluminium bodywork, how much less energy would they use compared to steel bodied equivalents?
    • CommentAuthorringi
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2014
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeaIf we made more vehicles with aluminium bodywork, how much less energy would they use compared to steel bodied equivalents?


    Given that car bodies are recycled many times, are you asking this over one car, or all the cars the aluminium is used in over the next 100 years?
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2014
     
    I am assuming that we start with metal ore, build two similar cars, one in ali and the other in steel.

    But I think aluminium has relatively low embodied energy when it comes to recycling. Not sure how it compares to steel though.
    • CommentAuthorrhamdu
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2014
     
    The Germans are not really storing wind power, just using it when it is available.

    Industry limiting its consumption during demand peaks isn't a new idea.

    Essentially the aluminium industry invests in spare capacity so the power industry doesn't have to.
    • CommentAuthorringi
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2014
     
    I think it may well be the case that power now costs too much in Germany for the aluminium industry to run apart from times when they can buy cheaply.

    E.g the aluminium industry can shut down 100% of the time, or just most of the time, and they have chosen to shut down just most of the time, as the plant has already been built.
    • CommentAuthorrhamdu
    • CommentTimeDec 2nd 2014
     
    Posted By: ringiE.g the aluminium industry can shut down 100% of the time, or just most of the time, and they have chosen to shut down just most of the time, as the plant has already been built.
    :bigsmile:

1 to 9 of 9

  1.  
Add your comments

    Username Password
  • Format comments as
 
Back to Discussions Top of Page
   
The Ecobuilding Buzz
Site Map    |   Home    |   View Cart    |   Pressroom   |   Business   |   Links   
Logout    

© Green Building Press