Not just blowing in the wind: Compressing air for renewable energy storage

[BlueStreak]

19. There are more than two photovotaic installations in operation in the world

That's it for compressed air. Just two: the one you cited and one in Germany, and another in Ohio that had to be abandoned. At least that is what this recent article reports:

http://www.zephyrenv.com/currents_archive/2Q13_currents.pdf

If it is a commercially viable solution, it will succeed. If not, then we'll continue to see the occasional demonstration project. So we really have no choice but to wait and see, unless you would like to put some money into it. Personally I am not taking any positions in these high-hype energy projects -- I actually bailed out of my last hype-driven position just this afternoon. That was a company that has been mostly a vaporware maker of CNG engines. They were exceptionally good at raising money, and eventually got themselves to the point that even if they ever were to make a profit (which I believe is unlikely), they have issued so many shares there will never be enough per-share profit to justify even 1/10th the current trading price.

But plenty of people are still buying that stock. Fortunately not everybody thinks the same way I do or else I would have taken a real haircut on that one. The founder of that company has done well for himself. PT Barnum would be proud of him.