English engineers have created a new hydropower system that generates electricity inside natural hills. The technology could be used across the UK in the coming years.
Hills are no longer just for country walks and winter time sledging, at least in the UK.
English engineers have developed a new βhigh-intensityβ hydropower system that stores and releases electricity from gentle slopes and hills. Water systems have traditionally used steep dam walls and mountains, requiring a ton of labour and resources that make them less than convenient to implement on a wide scale.
This new method, however, would allow for hundreds of energy production sites to be built across the country with minimal damage to the environment. Theyβll be cheaper and quicker to create than regular hydropower dams and could help push the UKβs renewable energy efforts even further.
Think of the hill or slope as a natural βbatteryβ for the energy to be produced and stored in.
Water is moved uphill via pumps, and later released back down through turbines. These turbines spin, which generates electricity when needed. The key difference for this high intensity version is that it will use mineral-rich fluid thatβs nearly three times as dense as water. This means smaller hills with less steep gradients can be used to produce much more energy.
Underground storage tanks larger than Olympic size swimming pools will house the fluid when itβs not in use, and surplus energy from the turbines will push the water back uphill. Itβs all self-contained, making it an excellent energy source β no need for nasty, daily carbon emissions.
It has claimed that this could allow for 700 new sites, totalling over 7GW of energy storage. For context, the UK is expected to need around 13GW of flexible clean energy generation and storage by 2030 in order to balance the electricity grid sustainably.
The companyβs chief executive Stephen Crosher also says each site could be built within one or two years, which is five times faster than traditional hydropower systems. The first plant is planned to be built by mid-2023 and crowdfunding is already underway.
The first few will be put together in disused mines and quarries with sufficient space, though the eventual plan is to move them closer to solar and wind farms where theyβll be buried in hillsides and invisible to the naked eye. Theyβll likely go down a lot better with locals than wind turbines did back in the day.
Weβll have to see whether or not these hill systems take off. Anything that gets us closer to a fully renewable UK the better.
I’m Charlie (He/Him), the Editor In Chief at Thred. I studied English at the University of Birmingham and as a music and gaming enthusiast, I’m a nerd for pop culture. You can find me curating playlists, designing article headline images, and sipping cider on a Thursday. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
Nikki Glaserβs Golden Globes paycheque has reignited the age-old issue of the gender pay gap. When will talented women be adequately rewarded for their work in a relentlessly unappreciative industry?Β
The Golden Globes kicked off 2025βs awards season with a milk-glass-full of memorable moments. And if you didnβt get that Babygirl reference, then I assume you donβt care enough about the Hollywood news cycle to sacrifice over four hours (if...
As we enter peak flu season, more companies are grappling with questions about sick leave. But is there a βrightβ amount of statutory sick pay? And how much is too much?Β
If youβve entered the new year with a blocked nose, youβre not alone. It feels like the morning commute has been peppered with coughs and sneezes for the past week. A trip to the shops transformed into a minefield...
As The National Trust marks its 130-year anniversary, it has announced a decade-long plan to rewild an area bigger than the size of Greater London.Β
The UKβs National Trust is the biggest conservation charity in Europe, with 5.37 million members, 10,000 staff, and thousands of volunteers.
Entering 130 years in operation, the charity is responsible for protecting over 250,000 hectares of farmland, 780 miles of coastland, and more than 500 historic...
Blake Lively proves our desire to watch successful women burn is both pervasive and insidious. But are times finally changing?Β
When Colleen Hooverβs wildly successful novel βIt Ends With Usβ was released as a feature film last year, the media went wild. But besides the dedicated fans who lined up to see their favourite characters on the silver screen, much of the attention shifted to on-set issues.Β
It was somewhat surreal...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
0 comments
