Modular Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Feasibility Study for the Village of Chama, New Mexico
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Attached to this cover letter is a high-level feasibility study evaluating the placement of a Modular Pumped Hydro (MPH) energy storage facility coupled with a solar PV array within the Village of Chama, NM. Originally, the intent was to evaluate co-locating a MPH facility with the new water treatment facility at Chama. However because the new water treatment facility is located at a relatively flat location with no elevation change nearby, this approach was abandoned. Instead, two other locations within the Chama community were identified. MPH pumps water from one reservoir to another reservoir located at higher elevation when energy is provided to the MPH facility, and then releases the water downhill to produce energy when desired. Any energy storage facility, independent of technology, must have access to a consistent energy production source. The reservoir surface areas associated with MPH allow solar PV panels to be co-located with the MPH facility. The study illustrates that a baseline Modular Pumped Hydro design coupled with a solar PV array is feasible to locate within the Village of Chama, NM. MPH was selected for energy storage review because of its superior performance, longevity, minimum cost to operate & maintain, potential to interface with existing or new water systems, and complementary solar siting. The volume and elevation values were selected as part of a single baseline design based on possible locations in Chama, ease of scalability to evaluate different sites, and the resulting energy storage capacity (approximately 720 kWh) could meet a significant demand of the Chama population (17% of total residences) each night of the year on average using a renewable source of energy. If a MPH facility as analyzed in this study or similar one is built, it is recommended incorporating some form of education display at the eventual MPH location to serve as public outreach to the many people who visit the Village of Chama each year. In addition, the facility described in this report can also provide unique educational opportunities for students in K through 12 to learn about energy and water interactions.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- OSTI ID:
- 1178727
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-15-22927
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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