经济学人:能源短缺 电能如何储存?(上)

 　　Business 商业

　　Iberdrola: The energy-storage question Iberdrola：能源短缺问题

　　A trail-blazing utility that against full distributed energy. 一个风能先驱对电池持有怀疑的态度。

　　One of Ignacio Galan's early jobs as an engineer was to design lead-acid batteries for the milk floats that used to trundle around Britain's streets. 作为工程师，Ignacio Galan早期的一个工作是为在英国街道上行驶的送牛奶的马车设计铅酸电池。

　　So the 66-year-old Spaniard, who heads Iberdrola, one of the world's largest utilities, claims he has been thinking about the storage of electricity for his whole career. 所以这位66岁的西班牙人，作为Iberdrola项目——世界上最大的公共事业项目之一的负责人，声称在他的整个事业里一直在考虑电能储存的问题。

　　That is useful, because for the second time since he took over Iberdrola in 2001, the industry faces a fork in the road. 这是很有用的，因为在他在2001年第二次接手Iberdrola这个项目的时候，这个行业正面临着分岔路口。

　　This time round, the big debate in energy is about batteries and storage. 这一次，关于能源问题的大争论主要集中在电池和存储方面。

　　The first time, Mr Galan blazed the right trail. 第一次，格兰先生开辟了一条正确的道路。

　　He made a prescient bet on renewable energy, turning Iberdrola into one of the world's largest providers of onshore wind  他对可再生能源有先见之明的确信，将伊维尔德罗拉公司成为世界上最大的陆上风力供应商，

　　while at the same time underpinning¹ returns with relatively² safe, regulated electricity networks in America (Avangrid) and Britain (ScottishPower). 同时支撑其电力运行返回相对安全，控制着美国（avangrid子公司）和英国（ScottishPower子公司）的电力网络。

　　Some European peers, such as Germany's E.ON and RWE, took the opposite approach, prioritising conventional fossil-fuel-fired power plants in less regulated markets. 但一些欧洲同行，如德国的E.ON和莱恩，采取了相反的做法，在不那么规范的市场里，他们优化传统化石燃料发电厂处。

　　In the past five years, the Germans have been through near-death experiences, and have belatedly created stand-alone renewables and grid³ businesses. 所以在过去的五年中，德国的公司经历了接近死亡的经验，迟迟才创造了独立的可再生能源和电网企业。

　　Iberdrola's share price has more than doubled. 而Iberdrola公司的股价却早已翻了一倍多。

　　The renewables revolution has, in turn, caused the latest dilemma⁴, because intermittent⁵ sun and wind require ways of storing electricity as a backup. 不过，因为间歇性的太阳和风能需要储存电力作为备份，所以可再生能源革命也带来了新的问题。

1 underpinning   

n.基础材料；基础结构；（学说、理论等的）基础；（人的）腿v.用砖石结构等从下面支撑（墙等）( underpin的现在分词 )；加固（墙等）的基础；为（论据、主张等）打下基础；加强

参考例句：

• Underpinning this success has been an exemplary record of innovation. 具有典范性的创新确保了这次成功。 来自辞典例句
• But underpinning Mr Armstrong's technology changes is a human touch. 但阿姆斯特朗技术变革的支柱是人情味。 来自互联网

2 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

3 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。

4 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

5 intermittent   

adj.间歇的，断断续续的

参考例句：

• Did you hear the intermittent sound outside?你听见外面时断时续的声音了吗？
• In the daytime intermittent rains freshened all the earth.白天里，时断时续地下着雨，使整个大地都生气勃勃了。