There are innovations and new approaches being explored in pumped storage systems, although traditional materials and technologies remain predominant. Here are some developments in this field:
- Repurposing Existing Sites: New pumped storage projects are increasingly incorporating repurposed sites, such as inactive mines. For example, the Marmora Pumped Storage Project in Canada plans to use an old iron ore mine as the lower reservoir and the mine’s waste rock pile as the upper reservoir. This approach saves resources and time by utilizing existing landscapes.
- High-Density Fluids: In the UK, RheEnergise is exploring the use of waste materials to create high-density fluids for a new form of pumped hydro-energy storage. They have received funding to test and identify suitable waste materials for their High-Density Hydro® system. This technology aims to enhance storage efficiency by using fluids with a higher density than water, potentially allowing for more energy storage in smaller areas.
- Closed-Loop Systems: There is a growing interest in closed-loop systems, which use two artificial reservoirs not connected to natural water bodies. This approach allows for more flexible site selection and reduces environmental impacts compared to open-loop systems that connect to rivers or streams.
While these innovations do not necessarily involve new materials in the traditional sense, they represent significant advancements in how pumped storage systems are designed and implemented.
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