Pumped hydro storage (PHS) complements wind and solar energy by acting as a large-scale energy storage system that balances supply and demand in the grid. It stores excess electricity generated by wind and solar when production exceeds demand, and then releases that stored energy when renewable generation is low or demand is high.
How Pumped Hydro Storage Works with Wind and Solar
- Energy Storage: When wind and solar farms produce more electricity than needed (for example, during sunny or windy periods), the excess electricity is used to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir, effectively storing energy in the form of gravitational potential energy.
- Energy Release: During periods when wind and solar output drops (such as at night or when the wind is calm) or when electricity demand spikes (e.g., in the evening), the stored water is released back downhill through turbines. This generates electricity on demand, filling the gaps in renewable energy supply and providing stable, dispatchable power.
Benefits of Pumped Hydro Storage for Renewable Energy Integration
- Grid Stability and Reliability: PHS provides frequency regulation and reactive power support, ensuring grid stability even as intermittent renewables vary.
- Large-Scale Storage Capacity: Pumped hydro is currently the dominant form of grid energy storage worldwide, accounting for about 93% of electric storage generation capacity in the U.S., proving its effectiveness at scale.
- Flexible and Responsive: It can quickly ramp power output up or down to match grid needs, making it ideal for balancing the variable output from wind and solar.
- Facilitates Higher Renewable Penetration: By smoothing out the variability and intermittency of wind and solar, PHS enables the grid to accommodate a higher share of renewable energy sources, moving toward a cleaner energy future.
In summary, pumped hydro storage acts like a giant, rechargeable water battery that stores surplus renewable energy and releases it when needed, thereby complementing wind and solar power by enhancing grid flexibility, reliability, and renewable integration.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-pumped-hydro-storage-complement-wind-and-solar-energy-2/
