U.S. researches wind predictability

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers at Oregon State University are studying ways to get steady power from wind.

Wind is a highly unpredictable source of energy, and when the wind is not blowing, there is no electricity. OSU researchers are working on a new $725,000 program to address ways to store wind power in order to make it more reliable, the Daily Journal of Commerce, printed in Portland, reported.

The goal of the program is to find new ways to store energy from wind. The project was funded by the Bonneville Power Administration, the Central Lincoln People's Utility District and the Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies Center.

OSU researchers will examine different types of storage technologies, including batteries, supercapacitors and superconducting magnetic energy storage.