http://www.usbr.gov/power/data/1834/Sec1834_EPA.pdf

This report presents the data for a study that looked at 871 existing dams on federal lands. They found that 66 of those dams are outside restricted areas (national parks, for example), have adequate head (height), adequate inflow, and are close enough to existing transmission lines to make the potential producers of power.

That’s about 7.5% of existing dams on federal land. We’ve got somewhere around 80,000 dams in the US. If even 3% of them were usable we’d have an enormous new power source. No need to build more dams, it would seem.

What was not measured was the number which could be used for pump-up storage. All the existing dams with adequate head and somewhat close to transmission lines. There should be thousands and we probably need dozens.

What to store? Solar during the day once prices fall under $2/watt installed. Store midday sun for late afternoon, early evening use. Store late night wind for daytime use. Store extra for those times when neither the sun nor wind are cooking….

Don’t get me wrong, I am just like the next guy when it comes to cheering on the developers of swappable batteries for electric vehicles and promoting citizen owned (rooftop or carport) solar infrastructure. But, letting an energy source sit there pumping FREE of cost becomes quite tempting. I’m sure it’s probably not as lucrative as some of the latest solar assisted factories that are using primarily robotics, but it may have its place in the future energy picture….

Any engineer with a sharp pencil and a solid internet link should be able to figure how many dams are out there, and how much sunlight east-to west could be made available. Even a low efficiency solar ink product could be proved to be useful.

We’re all still gonna fry! Let the hysteria recommence!