What's the future for hydroelectric energy?

[Luke Bainbridge]

I have been giving this some thought, and wonder what you think is the future for hydroelectric energy. I think it's a good way to get energy, however I also think that there is a chance that it could be quite an expensive thing to run, so I'm not too sure how financially viable it is. However, when non-renewable energy sources run out, there is a chance that we will be stuck with what we have, no matter how much money it costs. What would you think about that?

[Zarostulus]

I think it's a very underused technology, along with geothermal energy harnessing. The potential is quite impressive, so I think in the coming years as we become more efficient you can expect to see more and more hydro-electric features.

[LucidEnergy]

In the very long term, quite massive.

One of the biggest problems facing a 100% renewable future is storage. Most renewable systems are unrealiable. Pumped Hydroelectric represents the best possible means of storing electricity. When supply exceeds demand, pumps replenish resevoirs, and when demand exceeds supply this stored water can be used to run hydroelectric turbines. This already exists now, because of natural fluctuations in demand, but int he future I can see it being expanded significantly.

[Zarostulus]

I never thought about storage as a factor, but you're right. That's huge. Now it really is a technology I'm monitoring with interest. Would it be feasible to install things like this up and down the Peak and Lake Districts?

[LucidEnergy]

I never thought about storage as a factor, but you're right. That's huge. Now it really is a technology I'm monitoring with interest. Would it be feasible to install things like this up and down the Peak and Lake Districts?

I think it may be, but would probably face some restrictions as they are national parks.

As far as I'm aware, the usage is pretty small currently, and mostly used for large, short term surges like advert breaks. It's impossible to fire up a coal plant in just a few seconds, but these plants can start operating very quickly.

I think it's going to be the best long term option for grid storage, as using capacitors would be unrealistic on a national scale.

[St Rhenium]

I think it may be, but would probably face some restrictions as they are national parks.

I don't think this would be too much of an issue if done correctly. The energy is obviously renewable, so that'll help the environmentalists to feel a bit better, and I don't think we'd really need to go tearing up half the countryside to build them anyway. There may be short-term construction effects, but I think the ecosystem would bounce back once the plant had set in.

[JamesH]

Not much in the UK, we have pretty much maxed out most of our realistically developable sites. At least we have what we have though.

[Ronald Bolivar Chua]

The future is here...

Pardon the childish like drawings
Stage one
Necessary to generate initial electricity for stage two. If a real engineer designed the specifics, one could add adjacent turbines with rate of flow being the same for each unit. It is not patented, so for whoever chooses to modify and create specifics, it’s all yours.


Stage two



1)initial stage one generation of electricity pays the electrical cost of air compressors
2)Air is compressed into the track tank
3)As the tank ascends, it generates tension within the track
4)At the height of the track the tank docks and water floods the vessel
5)The release in upwards pressure releases the tension wound up from the track which travel to the base transferred into a tension cog
6)Tension cog rotation transferred to electric turbine
7)The tank now filled with water descends (sinking)
8)At the base of the track, air compressors again force air into the tank and the water out of the bottom to begin the cycle once again
​-If such is sufficient enough, segments can be added on to produce more electricity.
I guess the goal is for megawatts, or even gigawatts...
Buoy ascent with a turbine track will not be fast enough for sufficient electrical surplus, but tension transference would be optimal....

If those don’t work

The personal Perpetual electricity generator
Sequential turbine launch


Gravity pump/vacuum

Turbine