Feasibility of a small scale pumped storage demonstration project, Hibbing, Minnesota. [5 to 15 MW capacity]

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6370840

A public utilities company operates an electric utility system and district heating system in Hibbing, Minn. using a coal-fired cogeneration plant. Supplementary power for peak loads is purchased from the Minnesota Power and Light Co. The substitution of power from a pumped storage facility for the purchased peak power is potentially advantageous because: the coal-fired cogeneration plant could operate with an improved heat rate; numerous open pits from abandoned iron ore mines are available as reservoirs for pumped storage; and the peaking power generated would not depend on petroleum fuel as would be the case if an oil-fired diesel unit or gas turbine unit were used for peak power generation. Therefore the economic feasibility and technical feasibility of developing a 5 to 15 MW pumped storage power plant were examined. This study concluded that: 8 mine sites would be suitable for pumped storage; oil-fired peak power units should be avoided due to uncertainties in fuel supplies; the efficiency of the existing cogeneration plant would be improved; this is a non-polluting form of power generation; and the development in the US of small-scale reversible pump/turbine units for commercial operation is desirable. It is recommended that Hibbing, Minn. seek financial assistance from the Dept. of Energy to develop a small demonstration pumped storage project in the 5 to 15 MW range using an existing inactive iron ore mine pit as the reservoir. (LCL)

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA); Hibbing Public Utilities Commission, MN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 6370840
• Report Number(s): DOE/TIC-1028678; IDO-10097; ON: DE81028678
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130300 -- Hydro Energy-- Plant Design & Operation
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250300* -- Energy Storage-- Pumped Hydro-- (-1989)
COST
DESIGN
ECONOMICS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
GREAT LAKES REGION
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
MINES
MINING
MINNESOTA
NORTH AMERICA
PEAKING POWER PLANTS
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
PUMPED STORAGE POWER PLANTS
SITE SELECTION
SURFACE MINING
SURFACE WATERS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
WATER RESERVOIRS