Clean Power Professionals Group
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Using "Pumped Energy Storage" to augment baseload demand
Is it possible to use water as battery storage to augment the electricity supply?
Renewables alone cannot meet the baseload grid energy demands.
This happens when the generation from intermittent energy sources is low or demand is high specially when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.
How to reduce carbon dependence?
Deep decarbonization of the energy supply isn't possible without energy storage technologies. One such technology is Pumped-storage hydroelectricity.
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH), is a type of energy storage used by electric power systems for load balancing.
This method stores energy in the form of gravitational potential energy of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. The water is then released to rotate turbines at a lower elevation producing electricity.
Low-cost surplus electric power is typically used to run the pumps and during periods of high electrical demand, the stored water is utilized to produce electric power.
Although the losses from the pumping process make the plant a net energy consumer overall, the system increases revenue by selling more electricity during periods of peak demand, when electricity prices are highest.
If the upper reservoir collects significant rainfall or is fed by a river then the plant may be a net energy producer in the manner of a traditional hydroelectric plant.
Real-world Implementation in progress:
Based on recent announcements, TC Energy is proposing to build a pumped hydro storage facility in Meaford, Ont. The project will produce 1,000 megawatts (MW) of clean, emission-free power capacity by reducing the reliance on natural gas power production, and by reusing and recycling the excess electricity currently being generated.
If approved, it will be one of Canada’s largest climate change initiatives, reducing GHG emissions by an average of 500,000 tonnes; that’s the equivalent of removing 150,000 cars from Ontario roads, all while providing clean, carbon-free electricity to nearly a million Ontario homes.
Ending human dependency on fossil fuels will require a mix of technologies and innovation.
What climate technology are you optimistic about?
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