energy storage

Wind blows more at night? I've never noticed that. Around here, it blows more during the day (sea breeze is stronger than the land breeze). (according to my quick google search, it is usually windiest in early afternoon). Wind is caused primarily by differences in heat energy from one spot to another (yes, there are confounding influences of air pressure/humidity/etc, but they are also caused by differences in heat energy). There is a bigger difference in heat energy during the day than at night.

No wonder alternative energy is so impractical. It's advocates don't even know basic science very well.

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The problem is that in the U.S. we have dammed almost every river that is capable of large scale hydroelectric generation. It's a limited resource.

 

It's done (not with magnifiying glasses, but magnifying mirrors). It has the same problem as all solar--it only works during the day (unless you go to a lot of extra trouble to make molten salt). It doesn't work well when overcast (ever try to make a fire with a magnifying glass on a cloudy day?)

 

Why can't each major river have more reservoirs built?

And instead of a damn to create hydroelectric why can't we place a water-current electrical generator in thousands of places along an entire river system?

 

Which is why we were talking about pumping water around and making it the equivalent of hydro, except without the constant flow normal for regular hydro power. Water as energy storage, not as source.

 

It isn't a problem, it is the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. In other words...big deal....it happens all the time, don't sweat it.

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Versus its detractors who aren't even familiar with the 2nd Law of Therm? Please.