Energy storage |
A green revolution in energy storage
Global enthusiasm for pumped storage hydropower surges as Canada uncovers 8000GW potential, the UK seeks support for new projects, and India partners for a 2800MW capacity
expansion. Meanwhile, Dubai’s Hatta project nears completion, and studies begin for Australia’s Lake Lyell project, underlining the vital role of pumped storage in the clean energy transition
PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER REPRESENTS most of global electricity storage, with 165GW of capacity installed globally as of 2020. Not only does pumped storage hydropower provide large scale, high- capacity storage, but it also affords grid operators with a mechanism for frequency regulation, load following, inertia, reactive power, and black start capabilities. These features are becoming more critical with the integration of variable renewables in our electricity system. This summer, WaterPower Canada announced the
release of a new report that identifies tremendous potential for pumped-storage hydropower in Canada, with over 8000GW of potential at almost 1200 different site locations. Most potential locations are in British Columbia, followed by Québec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The report – Technical and Economic Potential Assessment of Pumped Storage Hydropower in Canada – was prepared by an alliance led by Stantec, in cooperation with the Australian National University (ANU), the Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation (CEATI) and Power Advisory (PA). It was funded by Energy and Natural Resources Canada. Given the long-standing and dominant role of conventional hydropower in Canada, pumped storage has historically been of limited interest to the country. This is changing, with new focus on pumped storage opportunities in Ontario and Alberta. The report offers an introduction to pumped sorage hydropower and presents a global historical development perspective. It also provides a concise compilation of ongoing pumped storage projects, and provides a comprehensive examination of the potential for further project development. It outlines a sequential methodology, which includes: Utilizing ANU’s Global Pumped Hydro Atlas for a structured, consistent, and thorough analysis of the landscape to identify topographically suitable candidate sites. This step yields what is termed the “Theoretical Potential.” Assessing feasibility factors that influence cost and the likelihood of successful development to narrow down the list of theoretical candidate sites to those that could realistically be considered for development. The application of feasibility factors to the identified theoretical potential results in what is referred to as the “Realistic Potential.” Categorizing the realistic potential in Canada over two distinct timeframes: development occurring between the present and 2035, representing the immediate future, and PSH development prior
30 | October 2023 |
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to 2050, reflecting the longer-term future. It’s emphasized that the sites described in this context are vital to meeting the impending requirements of the federal Clean Electricity Regulations by 2035.
Throughout the study, the ANU closed-loop site database was regarded as the most comprehensive list, offering the most extensive potential for pumped storage sites in Canada. The Atlas identifies over 200TW of theoretical potential sites. It’s noteworthy that open-loop sites, locations associated with the Great Lakes, and sites accommodating abandoned mines were not considered to augment this theoretical potential. This approach intentionally underestimates the potential to align with the overarching objective of this work, which is to provide a conservative estimate of pumped storage potential.
Over in the US, the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently revealed that closed-loop pumped storage hydropower systems have emerged as the leading environmentally friendly solution for grid-scale energy storage. These findings, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, shed light on the critical role of closed-loop pumped storage hydropower in mitigating global warming potential compared to other energy storage technologies. Closed-loop pumped storage hydropower systems, which operate independently of external bodies of water, were found to have the lowest potential contribution to global warming when considering the full lifecycle impacts, including materials and construction. These systems function by circulating water between two reservoirs to generate and store power, offering a sustainable approach to energy storage. The study, titled “Life Cycle Assessment of Closed- Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower in the United States,” was authored by a team of experts from NREL’s Strategic Energy Analysis Center, including Daniel Inman, Gregory Avery, Rebecca Hanes, Dylan Hettinger, and Garvin Heath. “Closed-loop pumped storage hydropower is shown
to be the smallest emitter of greenhouse gases,” stated Daniel Inman, one of the authors of the study. The research aimed to assess the global warming
potential (GWP) of various energy storage technologies, recognizing their pivotal role in overcoming the challenges associated with intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar. As renewables generate electricity intermittently, excess energy production can occur, leading to wastage. Energy storage systems bridge this gap, ensuring surplus renewable electricity reaches consumers.
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