this post was submitted on 03 Jun 2026
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Switzerland dug a hole the size of two soccer fields to install the world’s most powerful underground battery, able to output 1.2 GW within milliseconds. (www.ecoticias.com)
submitted 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) by Gsus4@mander.xyz to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] BlackLaZoR@lemmy.world -4 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (4 children)

Let's do some math:

2.1GWh

And

Multi billion dollar price (let's assume 3 billion)

2.1GWh - > 3billion

2.1MWh - > 3 millon

2.1kWh - > 3000 Usd /2.1

1KWh - > ~1430 USD

Considering that 1kWh in lithium ion batteries is like 150 USD they aren't getting a good value out of it.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 1 points 56 minutes ago* (last edited 52 minutes ago)

Larger startup cost, but over the one power plant's lifetime the Li batteries would wear out and have to be replaced many times.

[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 hours ago

Not everything scales linearly.

[–] jivandabeast@lemmy.browntown.dev 7 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Short sighted math, you've completely ignored the battery chemistry. These batteries last longer & don't degrade

Also im sure that the team of engineers who worked on the decision to go with this battery know what they're doing and have a better grasp of what makes economical sense than you do

[–] BlackLaZoR@lemmy.world -3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

team of engineers who worked on the decision

You misspelled politicians. In case of the large scale project the decisions are made by politicians. And their goal isn't exactly to spend money in optimal way. It's to spend money on big flashy projects that win them votes.

[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 hours ago

I'm sorry you think a politician would think 1kwh billed at 1500 is a good idea because it involves a "big flashy" project?

This isn't Trump we're talking about

[–] calcopiritus@lemmy.world 5 points 5 hours ago

I don't think the multibillion price tag is about the physical battery itself.

It's probably the cost of the entire project. Which includes:

  • Project management
  • Engineering
  • Digging the whole
  • Security
  • Maintainance
  • Environmental impact analysis (among many other analysis)
  • Reducing the environmental impact
  • Permits (and a LOT of bureaucracy)

The list goes on. Notice how I didn't even mention the battery itself.