A coal mine in Germany is recycled to be a giant hydroelectric battery. It will continue to pump water between two chambers.
The Prosper-Haniel hard coal mine in Germany at the state of North-Rhine Westphalia which was founded in 1863 will be recycled today, Digital Trends reported. The coal mine used to supply fossil fuels in Germany for almost five decades.
This time, instead of being a coal mine in Germany, the site will serve another purpose rather than produce fossil fuels. It will now be turned into a "giant hydroelectric battery for sustainable power supply that can store excess solar and wind energy.
The Prosper-Haniel coal mine in Germany will be converted into a 200-megawatt hydroelectric reservoir. More so, its 2,000-foot deep mine will act as a power storage or a giant battery to provide electricity for 400.000 homes.
According to Inhabitat, as a giant battery, it will store energy by the use of a continuous water pump on two chambers that are connected thru pipes with turbines. When an increased amount of power is needed, the upper chamber will then release the stored water all the way to the turbines and into the lower chamber.
On the other hand, when there's a low demand for electricity, the pumps will refill the upper chamber with the use of a much cheaper electricity. This will be a win-win situation for the coal mine in Germany for there will always be a storage facility to supply the entire country.
The coal mine turned into hydroelectric battery, it will not only produce renewable energy but also boosts the local economy of the country. Likewise, it will serve as the battery for supplying sustainable electricity for more than 400,000 families in North-Rhine Westphalia.
State Governor Hannelore Kraft people living in the same town who worked in the coal mine in Germany would also play a major role in the hydroelectric battery. "We have a very favorable part to provide sustainable and cost-effective storage," Kraft said.
