From Perry Bebbington
Nuthall, Nottinghamshire
PowerGen is correct in its claim that “Electricity can’t be stored. It’s
impossible to stockpile it”, contrary to what
Feedback (26 July) implies.
Devices that supposedly store electricity, such as batteries, actually store
some other kind of energy and convert it to electricity as it is needed. In the
case of batteries the energy is stored chemically.
However, PowerGen’s claim, while strictly true, does not give an honest
picture. This is because the electricity companies use a technology called
“pumped storage”, whereby they pump water overnight into a reservoir that is
high up then use it during the day to drive a hydroelectric power station in
order to meet peak loads.
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