What's Happening?
Sizable Energy, a startup co-founded by Manuele Aufiero, is developing ocean-based pumped-storage hydropower technology to store electricity. The company recently raised $8 million in funding to advance its concept, which involves two sealed reservoirs
connected by turbines. This approach aims to provide energy storage at a lower cost than traditional grid-scale batteries.
Why It's Important?
Ocean-based pumped-storage hydropower offers a novel solution to the challenge of energy storage, particularly as renewable energy sources like wind and solar become more prevalent. By utilizing the ocean, Sizable Energy can potentially overcome geographical limitations associated with traditional pumped hydro systems, enabling scalable and cost-effective energy storage.
What's Next?
Sizable Energy plans to deploy pilot projects and commercial sites by 2026, focusing on locations with deep waters suitable for their technology. The company may collaborate with offshore wind projects to optimize energy storage and distribution, potentially influencing the future of renewable energy infrastructure.
Beyond the Headlines
The development of ocean-based energy storage raises environmental and regulatory considerations, including the impact on marine ecosystems and the need for international cooperation to manage shared ocean resources.
