DNV GL: Artificial island as storage for renewable energy

DNV GL: Artificial island as storage for renewable energy

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DNV GL's role in energy storage --

DNV GL: Artificial island as storage for renewable energy

description
A solution to a long-time obstacle for large scale renewable energy

The Problem

For a long time, one major obstacle for using renewable energy in a large scale is that our current energy storage technology does not allow us to store the renewable energy generated by wind or solar panels. Unlike traditional power generators that could work 24/7, wind and solar generator has a unpredictable working hours due to the change of weather and time. Therefore, to upgrade to renewable energy in a large scale, we need an effective storage to keep these green energy so that they can be used whenever is needed.

The Solution

DNV GL, a Norwegian energy company, has been developing a solution to this storage problem. That is, they build an artificial "Energy Island" as storage. When there is a surplus of wind energy, the excess energy is used to pump sea water out of the interior ‘subsurface-lake’ into the surrounding sea. When there is a shortage of wind power, sea water is allowed to flow back into the interior ‘lake’ through commercially available generators to produce energy. This storage systems would be stationed off the Dutch coast in the North Sea.

Stage of Development

scaling

Organization to Receive Funds

DNV GL