| Pumped storage
With China continuing to transform its power system with a commitment to carbon neutrality, efficient and stable energy storage technology will be critical to improve the reliability of variable renewable generation sources. “Regulating power technology such as pumped
storage, characterised by flexibility, cleanliness and high efficiency will be crucial for the stable operation of the power system. As the most mature, economical and large-scale development option among China’s current peak-shaving power sources,” the authors states, “pumped storage power stations will usher in a golden period in the next decade.” Underground pumped storage development is being seen as a way to utilise abandoned coal mines and coordinate the development of clean energy in high potential communities. It will be able to: Complement renewable energy and abandoned mines in time and space. Reduce the impact of random renewable energy grid connections on the power system. Provide strategic space for the exploitation of new energy and smart grids. Help promote the low carbon transformation of China’s energy system. Achieve the goal of coordinated development of green, low carbon and recycling policies.
In their research, Zhongbo Su et al introduce a novel framework to evaluate the development potential for underground pumped storage power stations in the Yellow River Basin. Flowing through nine provinces in China, the 5464km long Yellow River is the country’s second- longest river. It also acts as a corridor connecting the river source, upper, middle, lower reaches and estuaries, as well as being a significant source of China’s power transmission from west to east and coal transportation from north to south. With nine coal bases in the Yellow River Basin, there is a large amount of underground space left behind after coal mining. As the authors point out, the distribution of abandoned coal mines in the nine provinces of this river basin partially overlaps the geographical location of the wind/solar energy distribution belt in northern China. The main advantages of using abandoned coal mines for water storage include: Shortening the construction period due to the geological data acquired at the early stage of coal mining.
Significantly reducing construction cost due to existing available infrastructure. Providing favourable topographical conditions because of natural altitude intercept in coal mines’ underground space. Offering a large total storage volume. Offering stable geotechnical conditions and a permanent environment for long-term hydraulic infrastructure.
Reducing the evaporation of water resources within mines and offering groundwater resources for supplementation. Although the potential feasibility of such facilities has increasingly attracted the attention of scholars, the authors say it remains unexplored. Systematic theoretical methods and technical specifications are described as being insufficient for their construction, while there is a lack of relevant supporting policies and legal systems currently in place.
www.waterpowermagazine.com | July 2024 | 27 Zhongbo Su et al say that evaluating regional
development potential of underground pumped storage in the yellow River Basin will be of “guiding significance for promoting its construction”, and thereby alleviating the volatility problems of wind and solar power within the Chinese power system.
Lack of knowledge The use of geomembrane lining systems for pumped
storage hydropower reservoirs has been the focus of research by the US Department of Energy’s HydroWires initiative. The first application of these in the US can be traced
back to the 200MW Mount Elbert pumped storage powerplant in Colorado, which was constructed by the US Bureau of Reclamation in 1981. And the first one constructed using an exposed or uncovered geomembrane lining system is thought to be the 30MW Okinawa Yanbaru seawater demonstration pumped storage project in Japan, which was completed in 1999. Newer facilities designed and constructed using either covered or exposed geomembrane lining systems, include the 30MW Calheta/Pico da Urze in Madeira, the 344MW Kokhav Hayarden and 300MW Mount Gilboa projects in Israel, and the 350MW Abdelmoumen in Morocco. However, no new pumped storage facilities have been constructed in the US using geomembrane lining systems since the Mount Elbert powerplant.
Acknowledging that there is a lack a body of knowledge in the design, construction, and performance of these systems in the US, this HydroWire report summarises the results of a scoping study performed to research the use of geomembrane lining systems for pumped storage hydropower reservoirs. It consisted of a literature review of pertinent and publicly available information about geomembrane lining materials and their use and applicability to these reservoirs. Key findings from the report were that: There are a number of suitable geomembrane materials available in the marketplace. However the selection of a given one is subject to a variety of factors and there is not one material that can be considered superior in all factors. Important considerations in the design and construction of a geomembrane lining system also include the cover and protection of the
Above: Malcolm Turnbull, President of the International hydropower Association, says governments must plan ahead to take advantage of pumped storage potential
Below: Estimates suggest there could be in the region of 15,000 closed or abandoned coal mines across China, offering the potential for future pumped storage facilities
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