Evaluation of Nominal Energy Storage at Existing Hydropower Reservoirs in the US

Hansen, Carly; Ghimire, Ganesh R.; Kao, Shih-Chieh

doi:10.1029/2022wr032210

Evaluation of Nominal Energy Storage at Existing Hydropower Reservoirs in the US

Journal Article · Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Water Resources Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022wr032210· OSTI ID:1899021

Hansen, Carly ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Long-term planning and operation of hydropower reservoirs require an understanding of both water and energy storage. As energy storage needs of the evolving grid increase, we must account for the water and energy storage potential of these reservoirs. Given the limitations of current data on existing hydropower, we compile statistics related to storage volume and hydraulic head from publicly available data sets and examine differences in descriptions of US hydropower storage. Assembled characteristics are used to calculate nominal energy storage capacity, a simple measure of potential to generate power from a given volume of water, not factoring in detailed constraints. Inventory-based estimates of energy storage are calculated at 2,075 dams, which helps put the potential for US hydropower to support energy storage in context with similar evaluations in other regions and with other energy storage technologies. The national energy storage capacity ranges between 34.5 and 45.1 TWh depending on the information used, with 52% of energy storage located at the 10 largest reservoirs in the US. Energy storage capacities are also calculated at 236 dams with historical volume and elevation data. Finally, reservoir inflows provide context for the storage volumes and sensitivities to hydrologic variability. Larger reservoirs with greater storage volume to inflow ratios are concentrated in the Western US, but the majority of hydropower reservoirs store less than the annual inflow. We address several infrastructure and water resource informatics challenges and highlight remaining issues, including representing seasonal or shorter variability in water volumes and representing connected hydropower facilities.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1899021

Journal Information:: Water Resources Research, Journal Name: Water Resources Research Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 58; ISSN 0043-1397

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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