An idea was recently floated that we might be able to reduce our energy bill by storing excess power from low power consumption periods and then using it during peak consumption periods. The essential imbalance is the result of coal plants only being able to run wide open. If you only need half of that power, then you are wasting the other half.
Michigan has a plant that pumps water into a reservoir out of Lake Michigan during times of low power consumption. The excess power is used to move the water "up hill". Then during high power usage, the water is allowed to flow back into the lake via a set of hydro-electric generators.
The new concept was to use the excess energy to create and maintain liquid oxygen. Knowing a bit of LOX, I know that this approach would have some serious power loss issues to deal with.
At the same time, it may prove to be economically viable. Who knows what the future holds.
And it doesn't require a Lake Michigan to be located next to every power plant either.
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