Strange and recent movements in the Californian sea have caught the attention of researchers and residents. After some more detailed observations, several 400-tonne spheres were found under the sea. Speculation has already begun: could these be new phenomena to be analyzed by scientists? Or could they be recent evidence of life outside of Earth that somehow ended up there? Well, what if we told you that these spheres have to do with renewable energy… would you believe them?
The strange phenomenon at sea that could be the answer to a more sustainable future
Of course, if you live in a region with ocean water and suddenly start to notice unusual waves appearing, you will be concerned. After all, it is not every day that you come across several 400-tonne spheres at the bottom of the ocean.
The mystery continued until, after weeks of speculation, the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany finally came forward to clarify the situation. And what seemed like a new phenomenon of underwater life or even a new scientific discovery was, in fact, the operation of a revolutionary system for storing renewable energy that generated strange waves on the surface.
The 400-tonne spheres under the sea that revolutionized energy storage
Let’s take a closer look at what this new renewable energy storage system is all about. The Fraunhofer Institute created the StEnSea (Stored Energy in the Sea) project, which is nothing more than a new way of storing clean energy, using the natural pressure of the ocean.
These spheres, which have caused a lot of talk on the surface, are hollow concrete spheres, weighing 400 tonnes each, and are located 600 meters deep. When they are charged, these spheres are empty inside and, when a valve is opened, water rushes in, moving turbines that generate electricity.
In other words, the spheres work like giant batteries. Unlike other solutions, they do not take up any space on dry land, nor do they require changes that impact the local ecosystem, which means there is no impact on marine life. This should keep the environmentalists happy.
More details on how these spheres work
You already know how these spheres generate electricity, but some details about them are worth paying attention to:
- The spheres can last between 50 and 60 years.
- Their turbines and generators are replaced every 20 years.
- There is an estimated 817,000 GWh of storage capacity. With this result, there would be enough energy to supply more than 200,000 homes.
- It has an estimated cost of US$ 0.051 per kWh stored.
- And an installation cost of US$ 177 per kWh of capacity.
Maybe the future of clean energy really is invisible
What is most striking about this project is not only the effectiveness of these spheres, but also how they were designed not to take up space that would in any way affect the surrounding environment.
Although the experiment carried out in the Californian sea is still in the testing phase, it has already caught the attention of governments and companies in the sector. The US Department of Energy itself has already shown support with plans to produce even larger spheres: up to 30 meters in diameter.
Not stopping at the US, Dr. Ernst, the main person responsible for the project, has already highlighted that the spheres have enormous potential for expansion, already signalling that the system can be replicated in places such as Norway, Portugal, Japan, and other deep coastal regions.
When we talk about spheres in the field of clean and renewable energy, these 400-tonne spheres were not the first to make an appearance in the renewable energy sector. Recently, the first wind sphere promised infinite energy from all directions, some say that it is even surpassing solar panels.
