this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2024
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To make solar power viable, we need a solution for overnight energy storage.

Batteries are complicated.

Do you know what isn't? Water go up. stonks-up

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[–] Owl@hexbear.net 20 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It's good. Like hydro power, the viability is going to be highly site-specific. But it's a bunch of well known parts, so if some geological engineers say a particular pumped hydro installation makes sense, I'm going to trust them.

I think battery and synthetic fuel technologies will continue to improve, and the range of places where pumped hydro is the better choice will shrink over time. But in the best sites, I expect it's probably going to stay the most efficient choice for a very long time, the same way the biggest hydro power plants dwarf the biggest nuclear plants.