What's Your Problem? Solving Solar’s Biggest Problem
Feb 13, 2025
Curtis Van Wallingham, co-founder and CEO of Hydrostor, dives into tackling the critical challenge of long-duration energy storage for renewable energy. He discusses the innovative use of compressed air in underground caverns to store energy efficiently. Curtis shares the obstacles of traditional methods and his company's breakthrough solutions, which aim to accelerate the adoption of solar and wind power. He also reflects on his journey in the renewable sector, including navigating investor challenges and the impact of climate change on energy storage.
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Excess Energy Problem
- Curtis Van Wallingham, head of planning at Bruce Power, faced excess energy production.
- Dumping steam into Lake Huron was a costly and inefficient solution.
Pumped Hydro Limitations
- Pumped hydro storage, the standard solution in 2008, proved impractical due to siting and permitting challenges.
- This led to exploring compressed air energy storage as a viable alternative.
Compressed Air Limitations
- Traditional compressed air storage faces two key limitations: heat management and site availability.
- Heat loss during compression and freezing during expansion necessitates natural gas burning, reducing efficiency.