Advanced Rail Energy Storage ?
Posted by Big Gav in california, energy storage, renewable energy
Utility Drive has an article on a weird but interesting energy storgae idea but put into practice by a California startup called ARES (Advanced Energy Rail Storage) - First-of-its-kind rail energy storage project targets role in CAISO ancillary services market. the scheme is a land based variation on pumped hydro storage - when electricity is cheap, a locomotive hauls a heavy load up hill. When energy prices are high, the cars are released to roll down the hill and the electric motor runs in reverse to generate electricity.