Pumped storage power could replace coal | Business Brief

Coal is Germany's biggest energy source, and one of its top polluters. But over the next decade there's a big effort being made to phase out energy sources such as coal and nuclear power in favor of more environmentally friendly energy like wind and solar. One possible solution would be to convert coal mines into pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations.

[LawrenceCarroll]

Pumped storage has a long and venerable history even before the alternative energy revolution made its major advances. Thus, the use of pumped storage as a means of transforming intermittent power sources into base-load power is a major - yet inevitable - evolutionary step in the transition from nuclear, coal, "fracked" gas etc. to cleaner and renewable sources.

[msyin]

Excellent forward thinking for Germany to close one industry and turn it into an asset with green benefits for not only their country but pave the way for others to do the same in theirs. England has a ton of old mines up North, what a way to revitalize and improve those areas while providing good jobs. 

[dougmc]

Good idea, strange presentation! Presuming that the pumped storage is contracted to the electrical utility and not a company operating wind turbines, then it is associated with high and low power prices, not wind energy in particular. Coal and nuclear also have a need for storage during periods of low demand, that was the original use for storage before the growth of wind energy.

[bobbypaluga]

This makes so much sense, close down non-polluting nuclear so Germany is dependent on the filthiest brown coal, smart move Angela. Reopen the Nuclear look at Thurium (so?)