Efficiency Comparison: Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS) vs. Lithium-Ion Batteries
Efficiency Metrics
- Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS):
- The round-trip efficiency of PHS typically ranges from 70% to over 80%. This efficiency variation depends on factors such as pump efficiency and turbine efficiency.
- PHS offers long-duration energy storage, often providing around 10 hours of electricity.
- Lithium-Ion Batteries:
- Utility-scale lithium-ion batteries generally have a higher round-trip efficiency than PHS, often around 82%.
- Batteries typically offer shorter durations of energy storage compared to PHS, though advancements are increasing their average duration to around 1.5 hours.
Key Differences
- Duration and Capacity:
- PHS is designed for long-duration energy storage and is currently the largest-capacity form of grid storage globally.
- Lithium-Ion Batteries provide shorter duration storage but have seen rapid growth in deployment due to declining costs and increasing capacity.
- Geographical Constraints:
- PHS requires specific geographical conditions, such as significant height differences, which can limit its deployment.
- Lithium-Ion Batteries do not have these geographical constraints, offering flexibility in deployment locations.
- Longevity:
- PHS facilities can operate for 50 to 100 years, offering a long-term energy storage solution.
- Lithium-Ion Batteries generally have shorter lifespans compared to PHS, typically lasting around 15 to 20 years depending on usage.
In summary, while lithium-ion batteries have slightly higher round-trip efficiency, pumped hydro storage provides longer duration and larger capacity storage with a proven long lifespan, making it highly effective for grid-scale applications.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-the-efficiency-of-pumped-hydro-storage-compare-to-lithium-ion-batteries/
