Trying to catch the wind

[4dsc]

http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2007/08/24/Metro/Trying.To.Catch.The.Wind-2936227.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition


So what do you think of this idea??

Five years and $200 million from now, Iowa may have the third compressed-air energy-storage facility in the world - a development that some professionals predict will be more environmentally friendly and less expensive than current sources of energy.

The Iowa Stored Energy Plant, which would contain the air-storage structure near Fort Dodge, will utilize the surplus of electricity produced by wind turbines during non-peak hours, said Bob Haug, the executive director of the Iowa Association of Municipal Resources.

"The wind turbine always is producing electricity - either going onto the transmission grid for use or going into an air compressor that that will pump the air underground," Haug said.

The air pumped underground is stored for later use - when the turbines are not producing enough electricity, he said.

[phantom power]

1. If a site has a convenient underground place to pump it, I don't see why not.

As with any project that involves pumping pressurized gases underground (eg GHG sequestration), I always wonder about possible unforeseen geological consequences.

My suspicion is that there are only so many places where this will be possible. Kind of like hydro sites. They'll fill up quickly.