Pioneering 'High-Density' Hydro System Generates Electricity in Devon
A revolutionary "battery" located on a hillside outside Plymouth, Devon, has started producing electricity using an innovative underground hydropower system. This groundbreaking technology enables the storage and release of renewable energy even from gentle slopes, rather than steep dam walls or mountains typically required for traditional hydropower dams.
Engineers at RheEnergise built this project to mimic existing hydropower plants, which pump water uphill during periods of abundant power supply, only to release it back down through turbines when power is scarce. However, the company's "high-intensity" hydro project uses a mineral-rich fluid with more than two and a half times the density of water to generate electricity from slopes less than half as high.
The system has consistently met its goal of producing 500 kilowatts – enough electricity to power 400 homes for a year if run continuously. This achievement has sent a vote of confidence in the technology, paving the way for RheEnergise to build commercial-scale projects worldwide.
According to Stephen Crosher, CEO of RheEnergise, the government-backed project demonstrates the potential of this innovative system as it prepares to develop larger-scale projects globally. The company is currently in talks with independent developers in the UK, Italy, Poland, Spain, and North America to establish the first commercial-scale project within the next three years.
The UK government has allocated over £69 million for long-range storage options and sees this technology as a key factor in reducing fossil fuel consumption by storing extra-low carbon energy for extended periods. This can minimize the need for fossil fuels when renewable energy output is low, thus alleviating pressure on the grid operator to pay wind and solar farms to cease generating.
Minister for Science, Innovation, Research, and Nuclear Patrick Vallance emphasized the importance of storing energy in the transition to clean power systems. He stated that RheEnergise's first-of-a-kind system has immense potential for strengthening long-duration energy storage capabilities and called for scaling up innovations like this as the UK's energy demand grows.
A revolutionary "battery" located on a hillside outside Plymouth, Devon, has started producing electricity using an innovative underground hydropower system. This groundbreaking technology enables the storage and release of renewable energy even from gentle slopes, rather than steep dam walls or mountains typically required for traditional hydropower dams.
Engineers at RheEnergise built this project to mimic existing hydropower plants, which pump water uphill during periods of abundant power supply, only to release it back down through turbines when power is scarce. However, the company's "high-intensity" hydro project uses a mineral-rich fluid with more than two and a half times the density of water to generate electricity from slopes less than half as high.
The system has consistently met its goal of producing 500 kilowatts – enough electricity to power 400 homes for a year if run continuously. This achievement has sent a vote of confidence in the technology, paving the way for RheEnergise to build commercial-scale projects worldwide.
According to Stephen Crosher, CEO of RheEnergise, the government-backed project demonstrates the potential of this innovative system as it prepares to develop larger-scale projects globally. The company is currently in talks with independent developers in the UK, Italy, Poland, Spain, and North America to establish the first commercial-scale project within the next three years.
The UK government has allocated over £69 million for long-range storage options and sees this technology as a key factor in reducing fossil fuel consumption by storing extra-low carbon energy for extended periods. This can minimize the need for fossil fuels when renewable energy output is low, thus alleviating pressure on the grid operator to pay wind and solar farms to cease generating.
Minister for Science, Innovation, Research, and Nuclear Patrick Vallance emphasized the importance of storing energy in the transition to clean power systems. He stated that RheEnergise's first-of-a-kind system has immense potential for strengthening long-duration energy storage capabilities and called for scaling up innovations like this as the UK's energy demand grows.
This new hydro tech is gonna change game 
! Dense fluid, smaller slope, same power 
. It makes me think of a water bottle 
that can store & release energy 
. We should visualize it like this:
. Then it's released, generating power 
The fact that they're using a fluid with way more density than water to make it work is pure genius! 
I'm all about this innovation and the UK government's backing for it. It's like, we need all the clean energy solutions we can get to reduce our carbon footprint and help the planet. 
. We're always trying to find ways to store energy, to hold onto what we have when it's abundant, and release it when we need it most 
. Just like the fluid in that system, our own capacities can be multiplied or reduced depending on how we use them. And isn't that true of our own relationships too? We need to nurture and recharge them when they're strong, but also know when to let them simmer and release their energy when needed 
.
! They're basically creating a battery that uses water to make electricity, but it doesn't need steep hills or anything like that - just gentle slopes 
. And it's working really well too! 500 kilowatts of power for 400 homes is no joke 
. I wish they'd build more projects like this everywhere, especially in areas where water resources are limited 
. It's amazing to see how scientists and engineers are working together to find new ways to make renewable energy work better 
.
. the fact that it's a "battery" like tech is genius too 
and helping us transition to clean power systems 
!
This tech is awesome, but let's be real... it's still stuck on this clunky forum 
. I mean, who doesn't love a sweet hydropower system generating electricity in Devon? 
. Can't we get some decent discussion threads going around this groundbreaking tech? Or at least a few coherent comments without being drowned out by 500+ replies? 
.
.
! The fact that they can generate electricity from slopes less than half as high is a game-changer. I mean, traditional hydropower dams can be super expensive to build and require huge amounts of space. This new tech opens up so many possibilities for renewable energy generation. It's like having an extra layer of battery storage built right into the landscape 
. And it's not just about saving money, but also reducing our carbon footprint. The UK is taking a big step in the right direction with this project and I'm excited to see where it leads