Chilled Air "Batteries" Could Make Renewable Energy Viable

Sounds pretty simple, too

A technology invented to use chilled air as a power source for engines has been put forward by Britain's Institution of Mechanical Engineers as a possible solution for storing electricity generated by renewables, such as solar and wind power.

One of the main criticisms levelled against renewable energy sources is their inability to provide "baseload" generation, as they are dependent on inputs that regularly fluctuate in intensity or availability. Storing energy from renewable sources and then releasing it at useful times is one option, but of course batteries are sub-optimal for that task.