Pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES) plays a crucial role in supporting renewable energy sources like solar and wind by providing several key benefits:
Integration of Renewables
- Energy Storage: PHES stores excess energy generated from solar and wind during periods of low demand. It uses low-cost surplus electricity to pump water into an upper reservoir, which can be released later to generate electricity when needed.
- Load Balancing: By storing excess energy, PHES helps stabilize the grid during periods of fluctuating renewable energy production, ensuring a stable power supply.
Grid Stability
- Peak Demand Response: PHES facilities can quickly ramp up electricity generation to meet peak demand periods, which often occur when solar and wind output may be low.
- Frequency Control: PHES provides ancillary grid services such as network frequency control, ensuring grid stability and reliability.
Economic Benefits
- Revenue Maximization: Although PHES systems are net consumers of energy due to efficiency losses, they can sell electricity at higher prices during peak demand periods, maximizing revenue.
- Optimization of Renewable Output: By capturing excess energy from renewables and releasing it during peak demand, PHES helps optimize the economic benefits of solar and wind power.
In summary, pumped hydroelectric energy storage supports solar and wind energy by providing a reliable means to store excess energy, stabilize the grid, and optimize revenue through strategic power generation during peak demand periods.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-pumped-hydroelectric-energy-storage-support-renewable-energy-sources-like-solar-and-wind/
