It’s an energy savings account when the wind is still.Wind is like most other renewable energy resources: it occurs intermittently, and not always when it is needed. People living with independent power systems solve this problem by investing in battery storage systems, so they have electricity when the wind is not blowing (same with a solar electric system, when the sun is not shining).
For utility-scale wind farms, though, batteries may not be the best choice for energy storage. One alternative, which has been mentioned regarding the proposed ‘Ulupalakua Ranch wind farm, is pumped storage hydroelectricity. Wind energy would be used to pump water uphill to a storage reservoir. Then, when electricity is needed, water would be released to a lower reservoir through pipes and a hydroelectric turbine, generating electricity upon demand. This combination of two renewable resources—wind and hydro—has the potential of meeting utilities’ reliability requirements.
In partnership with the state’s energy office, the Maui Weekly provides this feature to help Valley Isle homeowners reduce their utility bills and increase their environmental awareness.
Caption: The idea of hydroelectricity is that water naturally flows down. The flow of water is directed such that it creates circular motion in a generator with gears, and that motion is then translated into electrical energy. Such an engine is shown here.
Graphic: Oxford Science Encyclopedia