I've never seen this before, but I love this idea. Apparently it's common in some places, and this guy is annoyed at his wife. However, I'm just excited about the concept. I've thought about it for years and wondered why we didn't do this. Less expensive, and far more configurable. Yes, please get rid of plastic containers wherever possible.
A German experiment proved that simple concrete spheres make fantastic batteries. Now, California plans to submerge a 9-meter diameter sphere in the ocean and is already planning versions of 30 meters. Storing renewable energy sustainably and efficiently is one of the major challenges of our time. A team of German researchers is proposing a revolutionary solution: concrete spheres immersed in the ocean floor. Their potential is such that California is preparing to test a large-scale prototype. A simple, ingenious concept The project, called StEnSea (Stored Energy in the Sea), was developed by the Fraunhofer IEE (Institute for Energy Economics and Energy Systems Technology). The idea is relatively simple: hollow concrete spheres are installed at a depth of several hundred metres. Each sphere is fitted with a pump-turbine and a valve system. Here’s how it works: To store energy, excess electricity is used to pump water out of the sphere, creating a relative vacuum. To release energy, we open the valve: the water, pushed by the external pressure, rushes into the sphere and turns the turbine, producing electricity. Each sphere has an estimated lifespan of between 50 and 60 years, with partial replacement of components every 20 years or so. From theory to the first sea trials The concept has already been successfully validated in a pilot test in Lake Constance, Germany, using spheres three metres in diameter. Building on this success, the researchers are now looking to scale up. In 2026, a sphere nine metres in diameter and weighing 400 tonnes will be submerged off the coast of California at a depth of 500 to 600 metres. It will have a storage capacity of 0.4 megawatt hours (400 kWh), enough energy to power an average household for several weeks. Eventually, the aim is to create even larger spheres, up to 30 metres in diameter, deployed in ‘fields’ on the seabed around the world. Read More Boil eggshells in a saucepan, it's very clever and saves a lot of money. An environmentally friendly alternative to hydroelectric dams Compared with traditional hydroelectric power stations – often criticised for their environmental impact – underwater spheres offer a number of advantages: High expansion potential: The seabed offers vast, little-exploited areas. High social acceptability: Installed far from inhabited areas, these facilities arouse less opposition. According to Dr. Bernhard Ernst of the Fraunhofer IEE, energy storage via these spheres could become an essential part of the world’s energy future, particularly to support the massive development of renewable energies. This promising innovation shows that sometimes, solutions to modern challenges can come from concepts as simple as a sphere… made of concrete, at the bottom of the ocean. Source
