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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CleanTechnica or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: A new energy storage project, the Columbia Energy Storage Project in Wisconsin, will use carbon dioxide (CO2) to store renewable energy for over 10 hours
• Developed by the Italian company Energy Dome, this system is hosted by Alliant Energy and aims to support the integration of more renewable energy into the grid by providing long-duration energy storage
🔭 The context: Energy Dome's technology uses a closed-loop CO2 system, converting the gas into a supercritical state for storage and then using it to generate electricity when needed
• This method is more efficient for long-term storage compared to lithium-ion batteries
• The project has garnered attention and funding, including a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate its development
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Utilizing CO2 for energy storage offers a dual benefit: supporting the expansion of renewable energy while reusing carbon emissions in a closed-loop system, minimizing environmental impact
• This innovative approach could reduce reliance on fossil fuels and enhance grid stability as more renewable sources are deployed
⏭️ What's next: The project is entering its Phase I planning and community engagement stage, which will last 16-22 months
• Further phases could involve additional funding, scaling up the technology, and wider implementation. Success in Wisconsin could pave the way for similar projects globally
💬 One quote: Energy Dome describes its system: “When energy needs to be released, the CO2 is evaporated and expanded into a turbine, and then returned back to the atmospheric gasholder, ready for the next charging cycle”
📈 One stat: The U.S. Department of Energy has committed up to $30 million in cost-sharing to support the project’s full development
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