Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

A Fully Distributed Power Grid?

Posted by michael on from the no-smoking dept.

rleyton writes "There's an interesting and topical black-out article on an "internet inspired" hydrogen powered energy network. The premise is homes, cars, factories and offices store up hydrogen when energy is available, and supply it into the new energy network when it's not. Certainly an intriguing idea, with some interesting comments on future power management. Feasible in the next "three decades"? Perhaps."

1 of 389 comments (clear)

  1. Flywheels? by Daemonik · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Why not provide every homeowner/business with a flywheel UPS. The flywheel could charge itself during off peak hours and provide the homeowner's peak energy needs without drawing excessively from the grid.

    In the event of a grid failure, the house would draw power from the flywheel until the grid could come back up. The flywheel could also be used to regulate the power entering the house eliminating surges and brownouts.

    Flywheels are more environmentaly friendly than a bank of batteries and less hazardous than storing volatile gasses.