Environmental Impacts
- Water Sourcing and Rights: Closed-loop systems, which are not connected to naturally flowing water bodies, can face complexities with water sourcing, including disputes over water rights.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Pumped hydroelectric storage facilities, especially closed-loop systems, are noted for having lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to other energy storage technologies.
- Aquatic and Terrestrial Impacts: Open-loop systems, connected to flowing water bodies, can significantly impact aquatic ecosystems. Closed-loop systems generally minimize these impacts because they are not connected to flowing water bodies, but they can still affect local geology, soils, and groundwater.
- Flood Risks: The construction and operation of these systems can pose risks of major flooding, especially during construction phases or if there is malfunctioning.
- Construction Impacts: The construction process may require diverting rivers, altering ecological systems, and causing localized disturbance.
Mitigation Measures
- Siting Flexibility: Closed-loop systems offer greater flexibility in siting locations because they are not dependent on existing water flows, potentially reducing environmental impacts.
- Minimizing Groundwater Use: Careful management of groundwater use can help mitigate impacts on local aquifers and ecosystems.
- Ecological Assessment: Conducting thorough environmental assessments before and during construction can help identify potential ecological risks and implement measures to mitigate them.
Overall, while pumped hydroelectric storage systems, especially closed-loop configurations, have significant environmental advantages in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, they still require careful planning and management to minimize other environmental impacts.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-environmental-impacts-of-maintaining-pumped-hydroelectric-storage-systems/
