Belgium Plans Artificial Island to Store Wind Power
Island planned for North Sea, 3 km off Belgian coast
* Would be doughnut-shaped with a reservoir in the middle
* Will take five years or more to build
Belgium is planning to build a doughnut-shaped island in the North Sea that will store wind energy by pumping water out of a hollow in the middle, as it looks for ways to lessen its reliance on nuclear power.
One of the biggest problems with electricity is that it is difficult to store and the issue is exaggerated in the case of renewable energy from wind or sun because it is intermittent depending on the weather.