One of the biggest headaches of managing any off-grid solar electric system is the batteries. The need to ensure lead acid batteries regularly reach a 100% state of charge to avoid an early grave can be daunting. Ensuring they reach this 100% state of charge often involves wasting PV power during the absorbtion stage so as to ensure the voltage does not drop too low. Without a very clever management system this inevitably leads to wasted amps!
Professional flywheels aligned parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation have comparable energy storage capabilities of lead acid batteries with an almost limitless cycling capability and no need to reach 100% SOC before discharging to prolong service life. There is no need to check weather forecasts to plan your energy use the night before for fear of using too much power and not having enough sun the next day to charge your batteries! You can simply withdraw whatever was stored in the flywheel and that's that.
I have not checked what the cost of such an energy storage system is nor whether or not it is feasible to DIY.
Inherent dangers are obviously explosive destruction due to overspeed or manufacturing defects. locating the flywheel underground could perhaps best deal with those risks.
Has anyone ever given this much thought? Are the costs perhaps far too high?
Professional flywheels aligned parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation have comparable energy storage capabilities of lead acid batteries with an almost limitless cycling capability and no need to reach 100% SOC before discharging to prolong service life. There is no need to check weather forecasts to plan your energy use the night before for fear of using too much power and not having enough sun the next day to charge your batteries! You can simply withdraw whatever was stored in the flywheel and that's that.
I have not checked what the cost of such an energy storage system is nor whether or not it is feasible to DIY.
Inherent dangers are obviously explosive destruction due to overspeed or manufacturing defects. locating the flywheel underground could perhaps best deal with those risks.
Has anyone ever given this much thought? Are the costs perhaps far too high?
Comment