Short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage to smooth sustainable energy – update

“Storage is necessary to make renewables base load.” – Professor Donald Sadoway¹

Small-scale storage for domestic or small business use can be provided by the Tesla Powerwall or similar.

For grid-scale use, there are a number of technologies^2,3,4 – most widely deployed at the moment is pumped hydro-electricity – most of it as a secondary part of water storage for other purposes. E.g. Tasmania, & the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales & Victoria, Australia. Unfortunately, these systems require special geography on an existing river. Often, because these systems are designed primarily for water storage, the energy-storage function is compromised.

A hydro-electricity storage system designed solely for that purpose is able to avoid all of these problems – requirements are:

● difference in elevation between two water storages – e.g. at the top & bottom of a mountain, or a disused mine^5,6

● source of water for a one-time filling of the storage
● source of water to replace evaporation

To distinguish single-purpose hydro-electricity storage systems from irrigation-storage + hydro-electicity systems, the former are often referred to as, short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage (STORES).

By contrast with the relatively uncommon special geography required for a water-storage system, sites suitable for STORES are much more common. With this in mind, & $449,000 from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a partnership of the Australian National University, ElectraNet & the VTara Energy Group will be conducting the Atlas of Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Study for Australia.

https://eng.anu.edu.au/news/hydro-may-boost-share-renewables-electricity-grid

http://www.serree.org.au/knowledge/news/article/?id=anu-to-map-pumped-hydro-storage-potential-to-back-wind-and-solar
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¹ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “Innovation in stationary electricity storage (video)”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/01/innovation-in-stationary-electricity.html

² HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “Energy storage for renewable energy”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/10/energy-storage-for-renewable-energy.html

³ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “Farming on seawater & sunshine”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/10/farming-on-seawater-sunshine.html

⁴ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “US grid-scale battery start-up looks to Australia for R&D, manufacturing”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/10/us-grid-scale-battery-start-up-looks-to.html

⁵ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “Britain's biggest rechargeable battery”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/05/britains-biggest-rechargeable-battery.html

⁶ “Kidston solar and pumped hydro plant clears another hurdle”, http://reneweconomy.com.au/kidston-solar-and-pumped-hydro-plant-clears-another-hurdle-96381/?utm_source=RE+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=02d8cf4af3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_46a1943223-02d8cf4af3-40335897

/ hydro boost share renewables electricity grid hydro power provide cost-effective large-scale energy storage support high levels of renewable energy Australia's electricity grid Australian National University ANU leading study map potential short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage STORES sites enable renewable energy provide larger share generation national electricity grid lead researcher Professor Andrew Blakers ANU low cost technical maturity STORES solar photovoltaic wind energy reliably reach penetration levels above 50 per cent 100 per cent renewables water constantly flowing between reservoirs balance supply and demand STORES potential support grid stability inertial spinning reserve very fast ramp rates zero to 100 per cent in minutes STORES sites pairs of reservoirs separated altitude difference between 300 - 900 metres hilly terrain joined pipe water circulated between upper lower reservoirs closed loop store generate power South Australia possible STORES site altitude difference up to 600 metres hills east Spencer Gulf site could support development solar wind resources Professor Blakers $449,000 from Australian Renewable Energy Agency ARENA ANU partnering ElectraNet VTara Energy Group conduct Atlas Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Study develop blueprint cost model integrate technology Australia's electricity grid /

Audi is quitting Le Mans to focus on Formula E

2016 Audi R18 diesel-electric hybrid racer for the World Endurance Championship
Credit: BlogQpot

Audi has won the Le Mans 24 Hours race 13 times in the past 18 years – including diesel-powered wins 2006-2011 & diesel-electric hybrids 2012-2014.

Almost as spectacularly, last year, an Audi broke the 44-year-old lap record at Le Mans.¹ How does a lap record stand for 44 years in motor racing? In this instance, because the track was lengthened, the number of corners more than doubled, & chicanes were added to the longest straight – where speeds had previously reached 405 kph (just over 250 mph).²

With all of those successes, Audi has nothing left to prove in that arena, & their involvement with the Le Mans 24 Hour race & the World Endurance Championship, of which it is a part, will end with the current season.

Audi has long been part of the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport Formula E team. Their involvement will be expanded, ultimately leading to a full Audi factory Formula E team.


ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team Formula E racer

Or, as Audi Chairman of the Board of Management Rupert Stadler put it, “We’re going to contest the race for the future on electric power.”

Formula E is a good fit with Audi’s plans to offer fully battery-electric road cars starting in 2018.

The Verge – “Audi just quit Le Mans to focus on Formula E”
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/26/13416368/audi-quit-wec-le-mans-formula-e-dieselgate

Wheels: Audi ditches WEC for Formula E
https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/motorsport/1610/audi-ditches-wec-for-formula-e

Audi
https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-with-new-motorsport-strategy-formula-e-instead-of-wec-6980

FIA Formula E
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2016/october/audi-commits-to-works-formula-e-programme/
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¹ WTF1: “Audi Just Broke The 44 Year Old Le Mans Lap Record”,
http://wtf1.co.uk/audi-just-broke-the-44-year-old-le-mans-lap-record/

² Snap|Lap: “Top 5 fastest Le Mans cars”, http://www.snaplap.net/memories-top-5-fastest-le-mans-cars/ / Audi 18-year involvement 24 Hours of Le Mans withdrawing end of the current season World Endurance Championship WEC Le Mans Prototype LMP prototype endurance racing factory participation support motor sport Audi World Endurance Championship WEC race Le Mans enduro prototype LMP1 category Ingolstadt car maker wildly successful LMP1 programme 13 Le Mans victories WEC drivers manufacturers titles strategic realignment Audi's motor sporting focus VW Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal Audi all-electric Formula E Championship Abt-Schaeffler squad change of emphasis Audi chairman Rupert Stadler production cars electric motorsport cars Audi's technological spearhead contest the race for the future on electric power electric-power competition Audi sports car racing innovative technology WEC Le Mans Audi Formula E technology-driven series Jaguar Formula E promoting Audi's all-electric production vehicles leading premium car manufacturers Dr Stefan Knirsch board member technical development responsibilities motor sport electric vehicle EV Dr Knirsch latest developments Audi Formula One Audi prototype sports car racing reduce its motor sport budget Audi acknowledgement considerable financial impact last year's global dieselgate Audi Sport Audi Motor Sport post-dieselgate decline sales turbodiesels technology Audi WEC Audi Sport development of production vehicles Audi decision Volkswagen Group brand Porsche WEC LMP1 Audi Sport customer racing R8 LMS GT3 TT Cup successful, profitable business Audi Sport product RS 3 LMS touring car primary focus Formula E more technical resources budget Abt Schaeffer team's Formula E programme full-on factory attack boss Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich Audi hasmotor sport test and develop new technologies subsequent use in production Audi quattro drive revolutionise rallying set standards circuit racing Formula E control chassis battery pack manufacturers limited development 24 Hours of Le Mans Audi first manufacturer victories TFSI engine TDI hybrid race car fully electric racing LMP1 category WEC Porsche Toyota Porsche versus Toyota fight /

Magsafe for USB-C devices

For a large number of years, Apple has protected its laptops from a catastrophic fall while charging, with its MagSafe charging cables: the laptop end of the charging cable is held in place magnetically. Any sudden impact to the cable, such as from a tripping accident, disconnects the magnet, rather than dragging an expensive laptop to the floor.

More recently, Apple has begun to abandon its proprietary MagSafe for industry standard USB-C – first in the MacBook 12" – now in the just-announced MacBook Pro.

Some regret the loss of MagSafe from MacBooks, & some others would like to add it to the emerging USB-C devices, including Google’s Pixel Chrome laptops & some Android phones. Griffin Technology has a solution in its BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable.


Griffin Technology BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable
Credit: MacRumors

MagSafe was designed for laptops, which at the time, were significantly heavier than Apple’s current line of laptops. As a result, MagSafe had magnets strong enough to ensure a good electrical contact, while still disconnecting before a trip or other impact dragged the connected laptop to the floor.

Some reviewers have criticised the strength of the magnets in Griffin’s BreakSafe. The problem appears to be that Breaksafe has been designed to protect today’s much lighter laptops, & even phones, by using weaker magnets – which are not strong enough, in some use cases, to reliably provide a good electrical contact.

Some enthusiasm at Wired: “Missing the MagSafe charger in the new MacBook? Here’s your dongle”
https://www.wired.com/2016/11/first-dongle-new-macbook-needs/?mbid=nl_11216_p3&CNDID=

Not impressed at Gizmodo: “This MagSafe ripoff cable sucks”
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/06/this-magsafe-ripoff-cable-sucks/ / new MacBook Pro Touch Bar Touch ID more power space grey variant significant loss exclusively embracing USB-C Apple abandoned MagSafe charging technology magical magnetism protects saves tripping accident expensive laptop off the coffee table MagSafe industrious accessory maker recreated experience USB-C MagSafe Griffin introduced BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable appeal to buyers sans-MagSafe MacBook two parts tiny nubbin plugs into your laptop’s USB-C port cable that attaches magnetically manner similar to MagSafe break off cleanly saving you from catastrophic trips and tugs BreakSafe clever usefulness limited MacBook Apple’s revamped entry-level laptop only one USB-C port source of power and connectivity new MacBook Pro four USB-C ports entry model BreakSafe BreakSafe looks like a reasonable MagSafe facsimile MagSafe Apple’s patented tech BreakSafe isn’t reversible use the BreakSafe cord exclusively little donglet juts out slightly from your laptop perpetual wart MacBook’s best feature pale imitation beats no imitation at all true value of MagSafe peace of min /

There is a new MacBook Pro – reviews have been mixed

MacBook Pro – 13 & 15 inch screens
Credit: Medium

In the 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple has crammed the capabilities of the Pro line into the space occupied, for all practical purposes, by the MacBook Air (now available only in the 13 inch size). Look at the dimensions:

13-inch MacBook Pro
Height: 1.49 cm (0.59 inch)
Width: 30.41 cm (11.97 inches)
Depth: 21.24 cm (8.36 inches)
Weight: 1.37 kg (3.02 pounds)

MacBook Air
Height: 0.3–1.7 cm (0.11–0.68 inch)
Width: 32.5 cm (12.8 inches)
Depth: 22.7 cm (8.94 inches)
Weight: 1.35 kg (2.96 pounds

Smaller in every dimension but two: the Pro doesn’t have the taper, but the height is less than the Air at the thick edge. My experience has been that the taper doesn’t make any practical difference to the space the Air can be fitted into.

And the other dimension where the Pro is bigger? Weight. The Pro, at 1.37 kg is 0.02 kg (0.06 pounds) heavier. That’s around the weight of 5 sheets of A4 photocopier paper.

Argument for the Air has always been: trade processing power & ports for portability. Price has varied – the very first MacBook Air was way too expensive. Now, lower price is its only remaining advantage.

Real, “sacrifice power for small size & weight”, option is now the MacBook 12".

In addition to processing power & small size, the new MacBook Pro adds the security of the iPhone’s TouchID – Secure Enclave included.

Wired: “The MacBook Pro’s Most Important New Feature? Touch ID”
https://www.wired.com/2016/10/macbook-pro-touch-id-secure-enclave/?mbid=nl_103016_p3&CNDID=

Medium is doubtful: “Apple just told the world it has no idea who the Mac is for”
https://medium.com/charged-tech/apple-just-told-the-world-it-has-no-idea-who-the-mac-is-for-722a2438389b#.xb9g2ejxf / Apple’s new MacBook Pro thinner faster silver space grey color colour OLED touch emoji Photoshop shortcuts most important MacBook Pro upgrade much more easily secure your digital life new MacBook Pro includes Touch ID fingerprint scanning technology iPhone fingerprint identification staple all flagship smartphones log onto our mobile devices now enterprise laptops deployed comparable biometric security measures for years Touch ID MacBook Pro represents significant advancement security Apple fans entire industry change how you use your MacBook Pro Touch passwords too hard to remember too easy to crack massive corporate server breach Myspace fans suffers deficiencies your fingerprint Touch ID unlock your Mac pay for items online replace passwords altogether recognize multiple fingerprints secure simple access multiple profiles same device huge boon for authentication Thomas Reed Mac security firm Malwarebytes stronger than password easy for even a novice to use good password manager improve user’s online security potential use cases are limitless logging on Apple push Apple Pay onto the web Touch ID more and more payments both safer more convenient bank apps already Touch ID-compatible most retailers protects them from embarrassing damaging leaks password manager 1Password MacBook Touch ID upgrade Touch ID improvement ease of use fingerprints are stored biometric information stays on your device potentially vulnerable server somewhere Touch ID similar biometric systems asymmetric cryptography Stephanie Schuckers director Center for Identification Technology Research Clarkson University no shared key MacBook Pro server you’re connecting to private key keep secret, stored on the device can’t be seen by the app service on the other end use Touch ID for your fingerprint won’t wind up on any computer but your own nearly impossible to hack direct access to your device other big addition MacBook Pro Secure Enclave /

NASA engineers do world-class pumpkin carving too (video)

Ever year at this time, NASA JPL has a pumpkin carving contest. Every team has just one hour to work on it. They do get to examine their pumpkin the day before, including taking measurements.

Results? See for yourself:



Wired:
https://www.wired.com/2016/10/watch-nasas-high-tech-pumpkins-action/?mbid=nl_103016_p2&CNDID=

Gizmodo:
http://gizmodo.com/nasa-absolutely-killed-the-halloween-pumpkin-carving-co-1788384623

Cnet:
https://www.cnet.com/au/news/nasa-pumpkin-contest-halloween-jpl/ / space NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA JPL NASA JPL last Thursday annual pumpkin carving contest carving competition more like a science fair on steroids pumpkin you carved Halloween Halloween this year pretty lame insanely intricate jack-o-lanterns jack-o-lantern jack-o-lantern participants NASA JPL’s contest only had an hour build crazy contraptions scrape out the pumpkin’s guts team turned their gourds spinning flickering amusement park carousel HBD JPL Southern California research depot balloon-shaped squashes festive birthday pumpkin JPL teams nerdy friends building spacecraft they love geeky inside jokes pumpkin Ninja Starshade starlight blocking spacecraft how many mechanical engineers does it take to screw in a light bulb Thomas Edison pumpkin rave kids cows Martians abducting livestock NASA pumpkins clearly next level rocket-fueled inspiration carve pimpkin /

Spigen has a tether for your Apple AirPods

Apple Airpods
Credit: Macworld UK

I have a problem with wired headphones – one or other of them will frequently fall out of an ear. When this happens, the wire typically stops it before it hits the ground, or suffers some other harm.

With this experience, Apple's AirPods look like they would quite quickly suffer a potentially damaging fall &/or be lost. Many stereo Bluetooth headphones are connected, which will prevent this unless the other bud happens to fall out at the same moment.


Credit: JBL

Someone at Spigen apparently thought this was a good idea. Enter the Spigen AirPods Strap.


Spigen AirPods Strap – around $10
Credit: Tech2

Spigen website
http://promo.spigen.com/product/iphone-7-iphone-7-plus-airpods-strap-copy/ / Apple absence of the 3.5mm audio jack new iPhones iPhone 7 lightning-based headphones Apple AirPods seamless wireless audio experience newly developed W1 wireless chip access Siri single tap Apple AirPods ugly design losing them snug fit in-ear headphones add a wire to the AirPods accessory maker Spigen $10 tether wire Apple AirPods Strap latches onto Apple AirPods accessory made for an accessory Apple headphone jack on the new iPhones Spigen AirPods Strap keep AirPods secure AirPod AirPod design AirPods Strap Apple iphone 7 Spigen no 3.5mm socket /

Mercedes B250e electric MPV (video)

Mercedes has a fully electric version of the B Class – the Mercedes B250e. Robert Llewellyn (of the YouTube series Fully Charged) was very impressed – except, “... no rapid charge ability … can be charged on a 13 Amp plug ... or it can use a wall mounted car charger, but only up to 16 Amps … it takes at the minimum, 4 to 5 hours to charge it.” So, like the owner of the test car, don’t plan on any long journeys.



Autocar staff had a look & were impressed too: “In terms of all-round refinement & pace, the electric B-Class is far better than its internal combustion engine sister cars.” No surprise to anyone who has driven an electric vehicle, but interesting to see in the mainstream motoring press.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mercedes-benz/b-class-electric-drive / Mercedes-Benz basedall-electric vehicle existing B-class Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive pure electric version newly facelifted B-Class all-new architecture electric vehicle EV based on standard production car minimum of amount engineering changes taking inspiration original A-and B-Class models new-generation car sandwich version rear half car’s platform Energy Space Mercedes underfloor space EV lithium-ion battery pack space natural gas-powered version B-Class spacious mainstream versions 500-litre boot generous head and legroom option fold-forward front passenger seat loads over two metres long electric drive system sourced from Tesla production car launched press Daimler disposed four per cent stake in Tesla B-Class Electric Drive three-mode operation Economy Plus constant steady-speed journeys reduces output motor 83bhp top speed 68mph Economy reduces output 132bhp Sport 179bhp Economy modes overridden full power and torque accessed driver kickdown function Collision Prevent Assist Plus system optional extra B-Class radar-assisted recuperative braking system regenerative braking system information from the radar state traffic ahead car battery-charging braking slow itself road ahead clear downhill switch sailing mode battery power fully recharging B-Class 16-amp home wall socket take around nine hours battery empty 400-volt three-phase electricity supply more common Asia Europe recharged three hours all-round refinement and pace electric B-Class far better than internal combustion engine sister cars car’s effortless torque near-silent progress category of its own refinement luxury models effortless overtaking ability most disorientating motoring excellence humble-looking baby MPV steering response ride quality electric B-Class markedly better petrol-powered B 200 handy size well-packaged nicely finished inside tablet-sized screen dashboard ideally placed graphics presentation of Mercedes-Benz sat-nav system first rate two trim levels Sport Electric Art entry-level Sport models 17in alloys climate control cruise control reversing camera smartphone integration Electric Art luxury leather velour interior bigger alloys dual-zone climate control delightful car to drive genuinely enjoyable satisfying downside limited range electric B-Class industrial three-phase electricity lengthy recharge time recharge battery overnight daily mileage less than 100 miles price government grant B 220 diesel with automatic transmission truly green MPV Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive /