Germany is looking to make wind energy more efficient and easier to use. German researchers are working to combine wind energy with hydroelectric technology to store energy.
The new approach will eliminate the current problem faced by wind turbines, which is the inability to store excess energy in a viable manner.
The experiment is being undertaken in a wind farm located in the Swabian-Franconian Forest. The wind turbines will be able to store energy by pumping the water inside their structure. The design of their base allows for the storage of about nine million gallons of water for each turbine. The water flows downhill to generate hydroelectric power, when the wind stops. The down-flowing water is collected in an artificial lake.
Currently, wind turbines send their excess energy straight to the grid. In other instances, the turbines are shut-down temporarily. The main reason behind such measures is the absence of cost-effective method of storing wind energy.
The cutting-edge wind farm is the collaboration between GE Renewable Energy and German firm Max Boegl Wind AG. It will also house an 809-feet tall wind turbines, the tallest wind turbines in the world. GE claims that this is the first major project to integrate wind energy and hydroelectric energy. The design of the farm allows for the production of 13.6 megawatts of energy. It will add another 16 megawatts generated by the hydroelectric plant.
Germany is currently working towards eliminating the use of fossil fuels for energy. The country plans to harness 45 percent of its energy requirements through renewable sources by 2030. By 2050, it plans to be completely dependent on renewable sources of energy.