New Power Grids - a short summary

Recently a lot of articles about new types of power grids have been surfacing. Yes, we are talking green power here, but in a totally different new kind of way. Interestingly enough I've been thinking of some of the ideas myself. I'd like to give you a quick and easy overview of how such a new power grid could look like.

Let's start off with the question that most people have: What if the wind does not blow and there's no light for the solar cells?

Very simple solution, lets use surplus power (in times where not all the power is consumed) to pump water from lower levels into higher basins (just like any other hydro electric dam), and in times that we need more power than we can generate, we simply use hydro electric stations at those basins to create the power we need. According to research, Norway has the potential of generating 4 weeks worth of power for Europe, which would be more than enough to provide bridge a power lulls.

The biggest problem with this type of power grid is that we are currently using AC (alternating current) in our overland lines to transport power, which cannot travel the long distances required for providing areas with power that is being generated many hundred kilometers away. A few companies are currently building new power grids that will use DC (direct current) which can travel much longer distances.

It's now just a matter of creating these power grids. Anything is possible, we just need to will power to do this now.

If you would like to read up on this more detailed, you do that here:
The Economist: Where the Wind Blows
Long Power Connecting between Norway and the Netherlands
Long Power Grid in Scandinavia (with Map)

Wave Power Generators in Norway (another way of harvesting nature energy)