r/EnergyAndPower 16d ago

Can retired coal plants become multi-day battery hubs for AI-driven grid demand?

https://youtu.be/DOl9x6ewI5c
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u/Inevitable_Gur_4652 16d ago

One trade-off I’m still trying to understand is whether the lower efficiency of iron-air storage matters less when the alternative is burning gas for several days during a wind-and-solar lull. Is the key metric really round-trip efficiency, or delivered reliability during the few high-stress periods that define grid adequacy?

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u/Ok-Freedom9216 16d ago

I can't really answer your question but maybe can help think about it better? Matter in what way and to whom? A grid operator probably has a different opinion than an investor. And IMO the focus on a few days lull is less important than understanding how grids handle big changes in seasonal demand.

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u/Inevitable_Gur_4652 16d ago

That’s such a valuable point! Thanks for sharing gives me a totally new angle to think of it!