Underground pumped hydro storage: an overview
The status of Underground Pumped Hydro Storage (UPHS) for electric utility peaking and energy storage applications is reviewed. The salient features of major recent studies are reviewed. Turbomachinery options and advances in high-head pump/turbines are discussed. The effect of head, capacity, turbomachinery unit size and type, and other performance variables on the cost of a UPHS plant are presented. Market potential, siting criteria, lower reservoir construction, and geological related issues are addressed. The environmental impact of a UPHS plant is reduced from comparable facilities, and these issues and other safety concerns are presented. UPHS is an economically viable scheme for energy storage and peaking applications, where considerable savings in premium fuels are achievable by the replacement of combusion gas turbines. The technology for UPHS is available, but additional research and development is required for high-head turbomachinery, motor/generators, cavern geology, and system optimization.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6524684
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-781046-1
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1. information exchange conference, Luray, VA, USA, 24 Oct 1978
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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13 HYDRO ENERGY
PUMPED STORAGE
REVIEWS
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
SITE SELECTION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY STORAGE
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
STORAGE
250300* - Energy Storage- Pumped Hydro- (-1989)
130300 - Hydro Energy- Plant Design & Operation