Compressor Makes Wind Energy on Demand

Company General Compression is borrowing technology from the auto industry to store wind energy so that it can be used when needed. The company has partnered with Mechanology to create an energy buffer system using technology from Ricardo's automotive engineering.

The Dispatchable Wind system uses a high pressure air reservoir on location at wind farms to temporarily hold energy. Wind energy is sporadic by nature. Buffering systems allow excess energy to be stored, or electricity to be used at peak times of the day. The payback period for installing wind can be much shorter if excess energy is sold when it is most valuable.

The company's website doesn't state how much energy can be stored. With sufficient capacity you could pay for energy overnight and use all of your wind power during daylight hours.