It would take incredible battery capacity to store enough energy to make much difference. There are already serious questions of battery materials’ supply should electric cars be mandated for everyone.
However, living not too far away from TVA...
There are quite a few large man-made lakes in TX. I assume few if any provide any hydro-electric capacity, as I do not see hydro-electric on any tables or charts for the TX electric supply. I don’t know how deep those lakes are — the “drop” at the dam plus volume available essentially determines the output of a hydro-electric plant. But, that noted, Kentucky Lake is not very deep, even at the dam. (IIRC, tho’ it varies a lot, 70’ seems to be the typical figure, with some saying 75’. I know the locks maximum capacity is raising or lowering 75’.)
I am sure that just as with the TVA lakes, there are serious flood control considerations, and some of these are also water supply lakes, I believe(?), but, even so, are there any times when it would make sense for solar or wind power to be used to pump water back into some of these TX lakes for energy storage? Heck, Ameren Electric in Missouri has two relatively small lakes used together for just such a purpose:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taum_Sauk_Hydroelectric_Power_Station
Note how the economics of this work nicely, as explained at the link.
Of course... This does mean you do need some not quite idiot in charge to make sure the reservoir / dam / levee does not breech:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taum_Sauk_Hydroelectric_Power_Station#2005_upper_reservoir_failure
I can think of a few other problems to consider, and some serious new construction would be necessary.
But, since the lakes in TX are already there...
I did look at several of the TX lakes’ depths - they seem to range from 60’ to 110’ — should be plenty. That said, Toledo Bend Reservoir (TX / LA border) does have a hydroelectric plant, but a wimpy one, at only 92 MW capacity. I’m guessing power generation was not the primary purpose at the time of construction, and, demand was lower than today.
Great point and pumped storage works well.
- see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moses_Niagara_Power_Plant
Have a friend from college that works there. Pretty amazing the amount of water they divert behind the Lewiston Dam.