Proven Technology for an Evolving Grid
Pumped storage hydropower has consistently demonstrated its value as a reliable and efficient energy storage solution. Initially designed to enhance the efficiency of large steam-powered generating plants, including nuclear power plants, PSH has adapted to the evolving needs of the grid, now playing a critical role in integrating variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar. PSH can absorb excess energy generated when the sun shines, and the wind blows and then fill in the gaps at night and when the wind doesn’t blow.
PSH provides several key services that are essential for grid stability:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Despite high initial capital costs, PSH offers lower operational costs and a significantly longer lifespan than other energy storage technologies, making it a more economical choice over the long term.
- Longevity: Its typical lifespan is 80-100 years, including periodic equipment replacements and regular maintenance. PSH facilities outlast all currently available battery systems, which typically require replacement within 10-15 years.
- Efficiency: Modern PSH systems can achieve up to 80% round-trip efficiencies, making them highly efficient compared to other storage technologies. In addition, efficiency does not degrade with time or cycling, as is the case with other energy storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries.
- Grid Integration: PSH is particularly effective at integrating renewable energy sources, storing excess generation when demand is low, and releasing it when demand is high, thus ensuring a stable and reliable power supply.
- Grid Stability: Rotational inertia is an inherent feature of PSH systems that helps stabilize the grid by providing resistance to grid fluctuations. Rotational or mechanical inertia is becoming important for network operators with the increasing penetration of renewable technologies such as solar and wind, and conventional sources of direct inertia are retired.
Powered by
