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Non-Tech : Alternative energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Jim S who wrote (7907)4/21/2010 9:54:32 PM
From: Jacob Snyder  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 16955
 
Pumped hydro...efficiency is in the 70% to 85% range.
electricitystorage.org
In 2009 the United States had 21.5 GW of pumped storage generating capacity en.wikipedia.org

Compressed air:
about 80% energy conversion efficiency, for 2700MW plant planned for Norton, Ohio
xcelenergy.com
wired.com

Also energy losses for transmission to wherever the salt caverns for compressed air, or dams for pumped hydro are.

My guess is, trying to drive compressors directly from wind turbines would be less efficient.