Did you know that the world’s largest lithium-ion battery, as of 2020, is in Southern California? It can provide 250 million watts of power, enough to supply electricity to about 250,000 homes. But surprisingly, it’s not the biggest battery in the world. That title belongs to two lakes! Let’s dive into how these lakes work as a battery.
First, let’s talk about what a battery is. A battery is a device that stores energy and releases it when needed. The batteries in our phones, laptops, and electric cars are called lithium-ion batteries. They store energy using lithium ions. When you use the battery, these ions move and release energy, which powers your device.
So, how do two lakes act like a battery? Here’s the cool part: one lake is 300 meters higher than the other. To store energy, electricity is used to pump water from the lower lake to the higher one. This gives the water extra gravitational potential energy. When there’s a high demand for electricity, the water is released back downhill. As it flows, it spins turbines, generating a massive 3 billion watts of power for up to 10 hours!
As we look to the future, we need more large-scale batteries. Right now, producing enough electricity for the world creates a huge amount of greenhouse gases—14 billion tons each year! We need to cut that down to zero. However, many clean energy sources, like solar and wind, don’t produce electricity all the time. That’s why we need big batteries to store energy for when it’s needed.
Unfortunately, the lake battery system has its challenges. It requires specific geographical conditions, takes up a lot of space, and is expensive to build. The large lithium-ion battery in California can power 250,000 homes, but only for one hour. These batteries are great for small devices but need to be huge and heavy to store a lot of energy. This is why electric planes aren’t common yet; the batteries would be too heavy to fly long distances.
Moreover, lithium-ion batteries depend on certain heavy metals, which are limited and can harm the environment when mined. This is why inventors worldwide are working on new types of batteries.
One exciting idea is a skyscraper battery. During the day, solar-powered cranes stack blocks into a tower. At night, the blocks are lowered, and the energy from gravity is used to generate electricity. Another idea involves heating salts until they melt. The molten salt can be stored and later used to produce steam, which powers turbines to create electricity.
There are also bio-batteries made from paper and powered by bacteria. These bacteria release energy when they break down glucose, and some can even transfer electrons to complete a circuit. While these batteries won’t power a city, they are environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
From giant mountain lakes to tiny bacteria, and from seawater batteries to nuclear batteries for space missions, we’re constantly reimagining what a battery can be. The next groundbreaking battery might be just around the corner, ready to help us achieve a sustainable future.
Gather materials like plastic containers, water, and small turbines to create a model of the lake battery system. Experiment with different heights and water volumes to see how much energy you can generate. This hands-on activity will help you understand how gravitational potential energy is converted into electricity.
Choose one of the innovative battery ideas mentioned in the article, such as skyscraper batteries or bio-batteries. Research how they work and their potential benefits and challenges. Prepare a short presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting how these technologies could impact the future of energy storage.
Participate in a class debate on the best energy storage solution for the future. Divide into groups, with each group advocating for a different technology, such as lake batteries, lithium-ion batteries, or another innovative solution. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments.
Design an infographic that outlines the challenges associated with current battery technologies, including environmental impacts and resource limitations. Use visuals to convey information effectively, and suggest potential solutions or areas for further research.
Investigate the environmental effects of mining and producing materials for lithium-ion batteries. Write a short report discussing the impact on ecosystems and communities, and propose ways to mitigate these effects. Consider how alternative battery technologies might offer more sustainable options.
As of 2020, the world’s largest lithium-ion battery is connected to the Southern California power grid and can provide 250 million watts of power, enough to supply about 250,000 homes. However, it’s not the largest battery in the world; that title goes to two lakes. You might wonder how lakes can function as a battery. To understand this, we need to define what a battery is: it’s essentially a device that stores energy and releases it when needed. Lithium-ion batteries, which power our phones, laptops, and cars, are just one type; they store energy in lithium ions. To release the energy, the ions are separated from their electrons and then rejoined at the other end of the battery as a new molecule with lower energy.
So, how do the two lakes store and release energy? One lake is 300 meters higher than the other. Electricity powers pumps that move billions of liters of water from the lower lake to the higher one, storing energy by giving the water additional gravitational potential energy. When there’s high demand for electricity, valves open, allowing the stored energy to be released as water flows downhill to power six large turbines that can generate 3 billion watts of power for 10 hours.
As we move forward, we will need more large-scale batteries. Currently, generating enough electricity to power the world produces an unsustainable amount of greenhouse gases: 14 billion tons per year. We need to reduce that number to net-zero. However, many clean energy sources cannot produce electricity continuously. To facilitate this transition, we need a way to store electricity until it is required, which means we need grid-scale batteries capable of powering multiple cities.
Unfortunately, neither of the giant batteries we’ve discussed so far can fully address this issue. The two lakes setup requires specific geographical conditions, occupies a significant amount of land, and has high initial construction costs. The large lithium-ion battery in California can power about 250,000 homes, but only for one hour. While lithium-ion batteries are effective for applications that don’t require a lot of power, they must be large and heavy to store substantial energy. This is one reason electric planes are not yet viable; the best electric plane can only carry two people for about 1,000 kilometers on a single charge, as larger batteries would be too heavy for flight. In contrast, a typical commercial jet can carry 300 people over 14,000 kilometers before needing to refuel.
Lithium-ion batteries also rely on certain heavy metals, which are limited resources, and mining them often leads to environmental damage. Inventors around the world are rising to the challenge of creating batteries that can meet our needs, many of which are quite innovative. One company is developing a skyscraper battery. When the sun is shining, a crane powered by solar energy stacks blocks on top of each other in a tower. At night, the cranes let gravity pull the blocks down, using the resulting power to spin generators.
Another promising approach involves heating salts until they melt. The molten salt can be stored until there’s high demand for electricity, at which point it can be used to boil water. The steam generated can then power turbines to produce electricity. Additionally, there are bio-batteries made from paper, powered by bacteria and activated by saliva. Bacteria release energy in the form of electrons when they metabolize glucose, and at least one species can transfer those electrons outside its cells, completing a circuit. While these batteries may not power a city or even a house, they do not have the waste and cost concerns associated with traditional batteries.
From vast mountain lakes to microscopic bacteria, from seawater batteries that avoid the need for heavy metals to nuclear batteries designed for deep space missions, we are continually rethinking what a battery can be. The next innovative battery could be hiding in plain sight, just waiting to be discovered and help us achieve a sustainable future.
Lakes – Large bodies of water surrounded by land, often formed by glaciers or tectonic activity. – The Great Lakes in North America are some of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, providing habitat for diverse species and resources for human use.
Battery – A device that stores chemical energy and converts it into electrical energy to power electronic devices. – Scientists are developing new types of batteries to store renewable energy more efficiently for use in homes and industries.
Energy – The capacity to do work or produce change, existing in various forms such as kinetic, potential, thermal, and chemical. – Renewable energy sources like wind and solar power are crucial for reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
Electricity – A form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles, used to power devices and appliances. – The electricity generated by the hydroelectric dam is used to supply power to thousands of homes in the region.
Greenhouse – A structure with walls and a roof made chiefly of transparent material, such as glass, used for growing plants under controlled conditions. – Greenhouses help scientists study the effects of climate change on plant growth by simulating different environmental conditions.
Solar – Relating to or derived from the sun, often used to describe energy harnessed from sunlight. – Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, providing a clean and renewable energy source for homes and businesses.
Wind – The natural movement of air, often used as a renewable energy source when harnessed by wind turbines. – Wind farms are built in areas with strong, consistent winds to generate electricity without emitting greenhouse gases.
Turbines – Machines that convert kinetic energy from fluids like water or air into mechanical energy, often used in power generation. – Wind turbines capture the energy of moving air to produce electricity, contributing to sustainable energy solutions.
Environment – The natural world, including the air, water, and land in which all living things exist and interact. – Protecting the environment is essential for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the health of our planet for future generations.
Bacteria – Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be found in various environments, some of which are beneficial while others can cause disease. – Certain bacteria play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients in ecosystems.
