Hardware to Save a Planet

Storing Clean Energy with Air & Water: Hydrostor’s Game-Changing Tech

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Feb 27, 2025
Curtis VanWalleghem, Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrostor, shares his journey from management consulting to pioneering compressed air energy storage. He explains how this innovative approach can stabilize renewable energy grids, providing a cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries. The conversation covers engineering breakthroughs, site requirements, and operational strategies for autonomous energy plants. Curtis also discusses the future of energy storage and the vital policies needed to support renewable integration, offering a hopeful perspective on climate change activism.
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ANECDOTE

From Consulting to Hydrostor

  • Curtis VanWalleghem's experience at Bruce Power exposed him to the grid’s challenges with intermittent renewable energy sources.
  • This sparked the idea for Hydrostor, a solution beyond pumped hydro and batteries.
INSIGHT

Early Stages of Energy Storage

  • In 2010, the renewable energy and storage industry was nascent, with limited storage procurements.
  • Long-duration storage becomes crucial as wind and solar constitute a significant portion of non-baseload generation.
INSIGHT

How Hydrostor Works

  • Hydrostor uses compressed air energy storage (CAES) by compressing air and storing it underground.
  • It reuses the heat generated during compression, making it more efficient.
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