Another power-related post - didn't expect two of these today. But it appears as if Alaska has the solution to blackouts - giant rechargable battery reserves. It's an interesting concept, but one that seems only feasible in Alaska, where pipes can freeze within hours if power goes out for too long. In case of a blackout, the massive bank of rechargeable batteries can provide seven minutes of power, enough time to power up the diesel generators. It's an interesting concept, but, seems to have a very high cost for just seven minutes of power (though it does provide power to the whole city - about 12,000 people). With the blackout in London today and the one in the U.S. Northeast exactly two weeks ago, there's no doubt that our electrical grids need a massive overhaul, plunging the U.S. further into debt, but the price of ensuring our security and protecting against further blackouts cannot be measured - it just needs to be fixed.

URL: Telegraph | Money | World's biggest battery switched on in Alaska