Pumped hydro storage (PHS) is generally recognized as having a low environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions compared to other energy storage technologies. Here’s a comparison with other technologies:
Environmental Impact Comparison
Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS)
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: PHS has been shown to have the lowest global warming potential among energy storage technologies, particularly for closed-loop systems.
- Construction Impacts: While PHS has low operational emissions, it requires significant initial construction, which can alter local ecosystems due to dam and reservoir construction, affecting water flow and wildlife habitats.
- Efficiency: It incurs electricity losses during charging and discharging cycles, contributing to environmental burdens.
Other Energy Storage Technologies
- Battery Systems: Typically involve lifecycle emissions associated with material extraction and recycling, though they are more geographically versatile than PHS.
- Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES): Requires specific geological formations, has efficiency losses, and may have higher emissions during construction compared to PHS.
- Sodium-Ion Batteries and Other Technologies: Newer battery technologies aim to reduce material requirements and improve recyclability but may still have higher lifecycle emissions than PHS.
Key Considerations
- Geographical Limitations: PHS is restricted to locations with suitable elevation differences and water resources, limiting its deployment compared to more versatile technologies like batteries.
- Scalability and Cost: Despite its advantages, PHS involves high initial costs and geographical constraints, affecting its scalability compared to other storage options.
Overall, pumped hydro storage offers low greenhouse gas emissions but comes with significant environmental impacts during the construction phase and geographical limitations. As renewable energy sources increase, the relative environmental impact of PHS may decrease further.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-the-environmental-impact-of-pumped-hydro-storage-compare-to-other-energy-storage-technologies/
