A wind farm.
Drawing.
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Franck Lodi - Sipa
RheEnergise, a British start-up, imagined a way to create hydropower without resorting to massive constructions.
The company's engineers have indeed developed a device to use the slope of the hills to generate electricity.
The process does not require the presence of high mountains or dams, says
The Guardian
.
One of the key elements of the researchers' invention is the substance that replaces water in their “high intensity” hydropower project.
It is a liquid with a high mineral content, the density of which is two and a half times that of water.
This can generate the same amount of energy by flowing from a height equivalent to less than half that of a traditional hydroelectric dam.
700 sites identified
An elevation of 200 meters would thus be sufficient for the operation of the system.
During off-peak periods, the liquid is propelled up the hill and stored in an underground tank.
This process uses energy that is currently available.
Conversely, when there is a high demand for electricity, the substance is released and flows down the slope, activating the turbines which produce energy.
This method of energy storage promises to transform areas with slight relief into batteries.
RheEnergise said it had identified 700 sites in the UK that could host one of these plants.
The company also highlighted the limited carbon footprint of these facilities, the non-corrosive nature of the liquid used and the almost non-existent need for consumables and a recycling system.
The start-up has launched a crowdfunding campaign to launch a pilot station.
It hopes to be able to build its first power plant by the middle of 2023.
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