Why is Hydro Pumped Storage the Most Established Large-Scale Energy Storage Technology in the World?
The concept of hydro pumped storage has been refined and utilized for over a century. This technology relies on the basic principle of pumping water to a higher elevation or pressure, which dates back to the 1800s. Initially, pumped storage met a critical need by providing power during peak loads, a challenge that arose before the advent of other alternatives such as overbuilding generation plants.
Hydro pumped storage, therefore, stands as the most established large-scale storage technology because it has been around the longest. Until very recently, there were no other viable options. Advancements in natural gas turbine generation, which can be brought online for peak loads, and the rapid growth of battery storage do not match the extensive lifespan, capacity, and cost-effectiveness of hydro pumped storage.
The Advantages of Hydro Pumped Storage
Hydro pumped storage is the least expensive type of large-scale energy storage to build and operates at the lowest cost. It boasts the longest lifespan and the greatest capacity for energy storage, making it unparalleled in this regard. This technology stores vast amounts of electrical energy, which can be released when needed, thereby serving as a dependable backup for peak demand periods.
Limitations of Hydro Pumped Storage
Despite its advantages, hydro pumped storage is not a panacea for storing intermittent wind or solar energy. The topography of the region plays a crucial role in determining the feasibility of building a storage reservoir. For instance, the Ludington Mi storage power plant, built with the intention of storing electrical energy at night when demand is low and converting it to energy during the day, is a prime example of this technology.
Let's examine the Ludington Mi power plant: It covers an area of 2.5 miles by 1.3 miles, extending to a depth of 110 feet and has an installed capacity of 2,172 megawatts (2172 x 10^9 watts). To determine how many hours this facility can store the output of a wind farm with a total capacity of 600 megawatts (200 megawatts actual output, one-fifth the output of a nuclear plant), we can perform a simple calculation.
Assuming the wind farm produces 200 x 10^6 watts per second, in one hour it will produce:
200 x 10^6 x 3600 seconds/hr 7.2 x 10^11 watts.
The storage capacity of the Ludington Mi power plant is 2172 x 10^9 watts. Therefore, the number of hours this facility can store the output of the wind farm is:
2172 x 10^9 / 7.2 x 10^11 3 hours.
Thus, while hydro pumped storage is highly effective in providing energy during peak demand periods, it may not be sufficient to store the extensive and often intermittent output of wind and solar farms over extended durations.
Conclusion
Hydro pumped storage technology remains the most established and reliable large-scale energy storage solution due to its longevity, efficiency, and storage capacity. However, its effectiveness in managing intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar requires careful planning and geographical suitability. For regions with suitable topography and demand patterns, hydro pumped storage can play a crucial role in maintaining a stable and reliable energy supply.