The problem with wind and solar energy is it’s intermittent, depending on the weather, but a professional Geologist who was a special guest at the Saskatchewan Environmental Society’s Speaker Series says there is a solution to that.

Brian Brunskill talked about Compressed Air Energy Storage as part of the province’s renewable energy mix. He explains that the extra, unused power when the sun is shining, or the wind is high could be stored as compressed air underground in one of Saskatchewan’s salt caverns. Then when it is needed, it would be released and run through a wind turbine to produce electricity, therefore converting intermittent renewables to electricity on demand.

He says, “It’s a very simple process. There’s no chemicals involved and there’s no toxic waste, and we are just using atmospheric air.” Brunskill adds that the highly skilled oilfield and industry trades, scientists and engineers are already here and could be employed for this renewable energy technology. The presentation is available through the Saskatoon Public Library’s Facebook page.