There have been a few posts recently on the Journal of Nuclear Physics recommending that when/if E-Cats become available, a useful way to use them will be in combination with batteries.
Here is a comment by one reader:
Steven Nicholes Karels
September 8, 2023 at 3:55 PM
Dear Andrea Rossi,There are several existing companies that provide Power Walls or the equivalent. Essentially accepting Solar Panel power, when it is available, and charging or discharging battery systems that handle inductive loads and peak demands. Consider a SKLep unit or units that drive such a system. The SKLep unit would only need to power the AVERAGE load, while the battery system would provide power all the time, handling peak power and charging when in the low demand times.
This would reduce the number and the cost of SKLep units. Excess SKLep generate power (when the batteries are full) could be sold back to the electrical grid.
Essentially what Steven Karels is recommending is that E-Cats simply the place of solar panels to charge battery packs which can deliver power needed for normal household needs.
Where solar arrays already exist, E-Cats could be used in conjunction with solar as a supplemental power source, providing power when there is no sunlight.
Portable battery power stations of various sizes are becoming more popular these days. They can currently be charged from the grid, from cars, and from solar panels and can be extremely useful in emergency situations, or in off-grid settings.
These battery power stations are often preferable to gasoline or propane generators in that they are quieter, less bulky and less polluting.
A recent press release from market research organization Allied Market Research (AMR) states that the market for battery-powered portable generators was valued and $4 billion in North America in 2021, and expected to grow to $5.9 billion by 2031.
In some cases, I think that portable power stations coupled with E-Cats as chargers could provide a compelling alternative to grid-supplied electricity. Of course, an initial investment in E-Cats and batteries would be required, and batteries do degrade over time, so they would need to be replaced periodically. And we understand that E-Cats also have a finite lifespan, so one would have to do cost/benefit calculations before making a decision about this. It would be more attractive in places where grid-supplied electricity is expensive or unreliable.
