So it is 3GWh. Better than 600MWh. While the power requirement during nights might be less, it’s still a problem, specially during winter (short days, clouds, heat pumps etc.). And you need to charge those batteries as well which significantly lowers the power output during the day.
Honestly fusion isn’t worth talking about. The closest fusion has gotten to a viable power plant is Quaise, the geothermal startup that uses a maser (microwave laser) for drilling.
Speaking of which, geothermal might well be the main baseload power plant.
Fusion is still making progress, though. Slowly, but progress nevertheless. I’m not sure how geothermal is viable in general but if we can harness it, it might do very well also for heating.
So it is 3GWh. Better than 600MWh. While the power requirement during nights might be less, it’s still a problem, specially during winter (short days, clouds, heat pumps etc.). And you need to charge those batteries as well which significantly lowers the power output during the day.
You can see California moving to deal with this issue via battery storage:
https://app.electricitymaps.com/map/zone/US-CAL-CISO/live/fifteen_minutes
Pumped hydro is better, but not available everywhere.
I expect sodium-ion batteries to be the main type of storage going forward, but who knows?
Depending on geography, but yes, it’s rare that you have all requirements for it (hill, river etc.)
These certainly seem like the future. There is also fusion, but it won’t be feasible in near future if ever.
Honestly fusion isn’t worth talking about. The closest fusion has gotten to a viable power plant is Quaise, the geothermal startup that uses a maser (microwave laser) for drilling.
Speaking of which, geothermal might well be the main baseload power plant.
Fusion is still making progress, though. Slowly, but progress nevertheless. I’m not sure how geothermal is viable in general but if we can harness it, it might do very well also for heating.