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Pumped hydroelectric storage balances a solar microgrid

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OSTI ID:1648142
We consider the problem of reliably operating a microgrid with solar generation and pumped hydroelectric storage. We show that reliable operation is possible if storage equipment is sufficiently flexible and storage control is sufficiently robust to solar variability. Pumped storage flexibility can be achieved through a ternary confi guration; this enables rapid switching between pumping and generating modes. Controller robustness can be achieved through a novel control synthesis method based on convex optimization and resampled historical solar data. The proposed equipment and controller perform well in simulations including twenty months of real solar data at fi ve minute resolution. These results highlight the potential of pumped storage to enable reliable integration of wind and solar power into the grid.
Research Organization:
Hydropower Foundation
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office
DOE Contract Number:
EE0006506
OSTI ID:
1648142
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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