[SustainableTompkins] wind's "growing pains"

[GayNicholson at aol.com]

This concept is being explored by Tim Shaddock of Corning -- using solar  and 
wind power to pump water back up to a holding pond where it can be released  
to a microturbine when power is needed.  Thus avoiding the need for  
batteries.  Tim was our speaker on microhydro systems for the Green  Resource Hub's 
seminar in January.
 
Gay
 
In a message dated 4/10/2008 3:16:54 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
goodella at hartwick.edu writes:

I had an  idea with storing water which I would love to build someday. 
The idea  starts with a wind turbine which does not need to be very large 
at all.  This would pump water up (into storage somewhere). 
Alternatively, a bike  or any other form of energy which results in 
rotation could pump the water  up (treadmills, playground equip, or just 
a hand pump). Then, when power  is needed, a microhydro type of 
rotational energy collection could be used  - on demand - as long as 
there is water with potential energy. I think  this has some interesting 
benefits since it could use clean materials  mostly. Since the water flow 
would be constant when needed, a specific  power output would be 
possible, which may eliminate the need for  batteries. As much as I like 
solar and wind power, I still see some  non-sustainable aspects to using 
batteries to store the power, which this  system *may* be able to avoid 
while still producing consistent  electricity.
-Andy



 
----------------------------------------------------
Gay  Nicholson, Ph.D. 

607-533-7312 (home office)
607-279-6618  (cell)

1 Maple Avenue
Lansing, NY  14882
gaynicholson at aol.com

Sustainable Tompkins 
Program  Coordinator 
w_ww.sustainabletompkins.org_ (http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/) 

Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities
Regional  Coordinator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow  Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850
agn1 at cornell.edu




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