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Pumped StorageA Comparison of the Environmental Effects of Open-Loop and Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Lead Researcher (s)
- Bo Saulsbury
Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is a type of energy storage that uses the pumping and release of water between two reservoirs at different elevations to store water and generate electricity. When demand for electricity is low, a PSH project can use low cost energy to pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir for storage. When demand for electricity is high, a PSH project can release water from the upper reservoir through a powerhouse to generate electricity. Traditionally, this meant that PSH plants generated power during the day and pumped at night, with modest diurnal or seasonal variation. Today, PSH pumping operations are changing to facilitate the integration of the tremendous growth of variable renewable energy (VRE) generating resources, especially wind and solar, on the U.S. grid. PSH facilities are often a least cost option for high capacity (both energy and power), long-duration storage, and can provide the flexibility and fast response that a high-VRE-penetration grid requires. PSH faces its own set of challenges in construction and operation, however, including high initial capital costs, long construction timeframes, uncertainty in revenue streams (similar to all storage), and potential environmental impacts. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) HydroWIRES initiative includes research to address each of these challenges. This report focuses on potential environmental impacts: specifically, the degree to which impacts can be reduced by using closed-loop pumped storage systems as opposed to the traditionally more common open loop systems.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Environmental and Sustainability
Research Sub-Category
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Pumped Storage
Analysis of the Effects of Pre-whirl on the Efficiency and Operating Range of Hydro Pumps used in Pumped Storage Facilities
Lead Companies
The Pennsylvania State University
Lead Researcher (s)
- Keith Martin
This paper discusses the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to a case study of a hydraulic pump turbine operating in pumping mode. Emphasis is on the effects of induced pre-whirl on flow patterns through the impeller and on pump performance. ANSYS R Fluent, Academic Research, Release 14.0, software is used to model three-dimensional (3D) Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with a k − ω SST turbulence model. Full-wheel fixed rotor simulations are used to identify operating parameters that are used in more computationally intensive full-wheel moving mesh simulations.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Powerhouse Pump
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
complete
Completion Date
2015
- Pumped Storage
Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Motivations and Considerations
Lead Companies
EPRI
Lead Researcher (s)
- Joe Stekli
In order to integrate large-scale renewable energy generation projects, energy storage—at both the transmission and distribution levels—is essential. A 2018 report from the U.S. Department of Energy forecasted an opportunity for 36 GW of new pumped storage capacity in the United States by 2050. Pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) is the market-leading and most established form of grid-related energy storage in the world today. Its numerous benefits versus other long-duration, grid-scale energy storage technologies include low levelized lifecycle cost. Closed-loop PSH technology, which relies on manmade reservoirs not connected to rivers, lakes, or other natural water features, has been proposed as a way to avoid some of the siting and permitting challenges associated with traditional open-loop PSH. However, the extent to which some siting and permitting challenges can be avoided by closed-loop PSH systems might be limited by project characteristics, such as the clearing of previously undisturbed land and the need for surface or groundwater sources for initial reservoir fill and periodic water withdrawals. Although various regulatory and policy frameworks are advancing to promote the development of closed-loop PSH, there is still variability in how such projects are defined and uncertainty regarding the market and environmental sustainability of such projects relative to competing technologies.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Research Sub-Category
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Pumped Storage
Commissioning Prize for Pump Storage
Lead Companies
PNNL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Bo Saulsbury
Furthering Advancements to Solve Time to Commissioning Prize (FAST Commissioning Prize) that will seek innovative ideas on ways to reduce the time and costs associated with PSH from concept to commissioning. PNNL supports the technical analysis, as well as the voucher program to be supplied to prize finalists and winners.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Regulatory Management Process
Research Sub-Category
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Development of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Electric Power Systems
Lead Companies
EPRI
Lead Researcher (s)
- Joe Stekli
Energy storage is a topic of increasing interest for purposes of decarbonization of the electric power system, and in particular to address integration of increasing quantities of variable energy resources, such as wind and solar PV. A growing focus of decarbonization analyses is the need for new long-duration storage and the potential change in operations of existing pumped storage hydropower. A limitation of much of the analysis on this topic to date has been the limited consideration of how the economic value of long-duration storage will be affected by the large deployments of short-duration energy storage, primarily lithium-ion BESS, which are currently receiving state policy support (through mandates or financial incentives) or are otherwise expected to enter the market based upon increasingly favorable economics.. The contribution of this article is to review the literature on this topic, update some simulation results, and help to advance the methodological questions which need to be addressed in subsequent simulation studies. The article examines each of the major components of potential long-duration storage value, including energy time-shift, different ancillary services, and Resource Adequacy (RA) capacity. It also draws attention to how state policies, resource planning methods, and market structure and regulatory factors can influence selection of different types of energy storage, whether short- or long-duration.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Markets
Status
complete
Completion Date
2020
- Pumped Storage
Hydraulic Design and Optimization of a Modular Pump-turbine Runner
Lead Companies
Lehigh University
Lead Researcher (s)
- William Schleicher
A novel modular pumped-storage scheme is investigated that uses elevated water storage towers and cement pools as the upper and lower reservoirs. The scheme serves a second purpose as part of the wastewater treatment process, providing multiple benefits besides energy storage. A small pumped-storage scheme has been shown to be a competitive energy storage solution for micro renewable energy grids; however, pumpedstorage schemes have not been implemented on scales smaller than megawatts. Off-theshelf runner designs are not available for modular pumped-storage schemes, so a custom runner design is sought. A preliminary hydraulic design for a pump-turbine runner is examined and optimized for increased pumping hydraulic efficiency using a response surface optimization methodology. The hydraulic pumping efficiency was found to have improved by 1.06% at the best efficiency point, while turbine hydraulic efficiency decreased by 0.70% at the turbine best efficiency point. The round-trip efficiency for the system was estimated to be about 78%, which is comparable to larger pumped-storage schemes currently in operation.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Powerhouse Pump
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
complete
Completion Date
2015
- Pumped Storage
Hydropower Valuation Guidance and Research Program Review
Lead Companies
PNNL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Patrick Balducci
The objective of this project is to advance the state of the art in assessing the value of PSH plants and their contributions to the power system. The specific goal is to develop a detailed, step-by-step valuation guidebook that PSH developers, plant owners or operators, and other stakeholders can use to assess the value of existing or potential new PSH projects.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Renewable Integration
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
Conventional HydroInnovative Outreach and Engagement Approaches
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Lead Researcher (s)
- Shannon Bates
This project focuses on innovative outreach and engagement approaches that can be applied to all waterpower projects (marine and hydropower) within the WPTO portfolio.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro, Marine Energy, Pumped Storage, Small or Non Conventional Hydro
Research Category
Research Sub-Category
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
PSH TES Tool
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Lead Researcher (s)
- Mark Weimer
This project will develop a set of online tools that industry, regulators, and other stakeholders could adopt and use to advance PSH projects in the US. Current efforts include completing the process of defining the needs of industry and developing a PSH valuation tool.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Regulatory Management Process
Research Sub-Category
Regulatory Process
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
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