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Old 02-25-2008 | 07:32 AM
  #160  
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tomgoodman
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From: 767A (Ret)
Default "Storing" electricity

Originally Posted by jungle
You are correct. Plants produce as demand dictates. The grid really has no major storage capability.
As a demonstration project, the TVA built a large reservoir in the mountains, connected to the valley below by a massive water pipe. During periods of low demand, they would use surplus electricity to pump water up there, then let it out to run a turbine during peak demand. Don't know how successful this has been, or whether they will ever recover the cost to build it.
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