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- Conventional Hydro
Integrated Water and Energy Systems Analysis Tool Development
Lead Companies
Colorado State University
Lead Researcher (s)
- André Dozier
Increasing penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the bulk electricity system has caused new operational challenges requiring large ramping rate and reserve capacity as well as increased transmission congestion due to unscheduled flow. Contemporary literature and recent renewable energy integration studies indicate that more realism needs to be incorporated into renewable energy studies. Many detailed water and power models have been developed in their respective fields, but no free-of-charge integrated water and power system model that considers constraints and objectives in both systems jointly has been constructed. Therefore, an integrated water and power model structure that addresses some contemporary challenges is formulated as a long-term goal, but only a small portion of the model structure is actually implemented as software. A water network model called MODSIM is adapted using a conditional gradient method to be able to connect to an overarching optimization routine that decomposes the water and power problems. The water network model is connected to a simple power dispatch model that uses a linear programming approach to dispatch hydropower resources to mitigate power flows across a transmission line. The power dispatch model first decides optimal power injections from each of the hydropower reservoirs, which are then used as hydropower targets for the water network model to achieve. Any unsatisfied power demand or congested transmission line is assumed to be met by imported power. A case study was performed on the Mid-Columbia River in the U.S. to test the capabilities of the integrated water and power model. Results indicate that hydropower resources can accommodate transmission congestion and energy capacity on wind production up until a particular threshold on the penetration level, after which hydropower resources provide no added benefit to the system. Effects of operational decisions to mitigate wind power penetration level and transmission capacity on simulated total dissolved gases were negligible. Finally, future work on the integrated water and power model is discussed along with expected results from the fully implemented model and its potential applications.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
complete
Completion Date
2012
- Conventional Hydro
- Pumped Storage
Life Cycle Assessment of Pumped Hydropower Storage [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
NREL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Daniel Inman, Daniel.inman@nrel.gov
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an internationally accepted method for making consistent comparisons among technologies providing the same service based on environmental metrics. LCAs utilize similar inputs as techno-economic analysis (TEA). Traditionally, energy generation technologies have been evaluated through LCA, and in recent years, some energy storage technologies have likewise been evaluated, like pumped storage hydropower. However, with newer forms of energy storage being built, like closed-loop PSH, there is a need for detailed assessment of life cycle environmental impacts of them in a consistent manner to other storage technologies and to TEAs. With advice from an expert review panel, NREL will develop a novel LCA of closed-loop pumped storage hydropower leveraging extant TEAs to inform stakeholders and decision makers such as DOE, ISOs, non-government organizations, and other researchers on credible, objective environmental indicators such as life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, material demands, and net energy that can be fairly and commensurately compared to other storage technologies.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Modeling and Analysis of a Small Hydropower Plant and Battery Energy Storage System Connected as a Microgrid
Lead Companies
University of Washington
Lead Researcher (s)
- Kelly Kozdras
This project developed a model in PowerWorld for a small microgrid being considered to improve reliability in a Washington mountain town. The microgrid utilizes both an existing small hydro generation site and a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The transient stability of this microgrid was analyzed based on the system model, and potential system modifications considered. The software used in the analysis allows for many types of transient contingencies to be analyzed, which will aid in the future modeling and analysis of potential control strategies.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
complete
Completion Date
2015
- Conventional Hydro
Modeling Smart Microgrids for the Developing World with Probabilistic Supply and Demand Inputs
Lead Companies
Carnegie Mellon University
Lead Researcher (s)
- Jesse Thornburg
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
complete
Completion Date
2018
- Pumped Storage
Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) FAST Commissioning Prize Technical Analysis
Lead Companies
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Scott DeNeale (denealest@ornl.gov)
The US energy landscape has undergone major changes over the past 10 years and will continue to see significant changes in future decades as the power grid increases its reliance on variable renewable energy resources. Because of the inherent variability of these resources, renewable energy growth may require additional energy storage capacity to provide flexible load-following capabilities and other grid services that can quickly adjust to changes in energy demand and generation. Pumped storage hydropower (PSH)—one such energy storage technology—uses pumps to convey water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir for energy storage and releases water back to the lower reservoir via a powerhouse for hydropower generation. PSH facility pump and generation cycling often follows economic and energy demand conditions. Across the United States, 43 PSH facilities are in operation and 55 projects are in various permitting or licensing stages. Altogether, the 43 operational projects provide the wide majority (95%) of utility-scale electricity storage in the United States. These facilities also provide significant power and nonpower grid benefits, including large-scale electrical system reserve capacity, grid reliability support, and electricity supply-demand balancing through quick-response capabilities and operational flexibility. PSH systems can accomplish these at a scale (e.g., size) and cost that makes these systems highly attractive from a technical standpoint. Although these research concepts are still in their infancy, they demonstrate promising potential as future PSH energy storage technologies. Although PSH has many advantages, development in the United States has effectively stalled since the 1990s, partially because of the magnitude of project costs and financing interest during development and construction, the length of time from project investment until project revenue begins, permitting challenges, construction risks, competition from other storage technologies (e.g., batteries, hydrogen storage), and electricity market evolution and uncertainty. In short, the time, cost, and risk associated with modern PSH development have resulted in limited growth in the United States recently, despite the growing energy storage demand stemming from increased wind and solar power deployment. Technology innovation is needed to help reduce PSH commissioning time, cost, and risk, particularly during the post-licensing phase of project development. To address challenges facing the PSH industry and to improve PSH commissioning timelines, the US Department of Energy (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) initiated the PSH Furthering Advancements to Shorten Time to (FAST) Commissioning Prize project.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Pumped Storage
Real Time Inertia Monitor Based on Pumped Hydro Operation Signatures [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Yilu Liu (liu@utk.edu)
This project seeks to develop a real-time, low-cost, accurate inertia monitoring system for pumped storage hydropower plants. Monitoring inertia is essential for stable system operation, especially in high-renewable grids, but traditional inertia estimation approaches do not work in systems with high penetrations of inverter based resources. Researchers will demonstrate and deploy their monitoring system by the end of the two-year project. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Physical & Cyber Security
Resilient Alaskan Distribution system Improvements using Automation, Network analysis, Control, and Energy storage (RADIANCE)
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Tamara Becejac, PNNL
- Sigifredo Gonzalez, SNL
This project aims to perform a full-scale regional deployment of advanced technologies and methods for resiliency-enhanced operation of regional distribution grid in the City of Cordova, AK under harsh weather, cyber-threats, and dynamic grid conditions. PNNL will lead the efforts for design, analysis and evaluation of communication networks, fault propagation, interoperability and communication protocols, including IEC 61850 (and associated standard IEC 62351), for loosely- and tightly-networked microgrids. PNNL’s expertise in advanced sensors such as micro-PMUs will be utilized in the project and aspects related to optimal placement of sensors in Cordova grid will be addressed in collaboration with SNL’s efforts for microgrid design and INL’s real-time CHIL and cyber-testing.
Technology Application
Physical & Cyber Security, Small or Non Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
Expected 2022
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Contact Marla Barnes at: marla@hydro.org