Environmental Impacts of Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS) Compared to Other Energy Storage Solutions
Pumped hydro storage (PHS), the largest form of grid-scale energy storage, has both beneficial and detrimental environmental impacts compared to other energy storage technologies.
Advantages of Pumped Hydro Storage
1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
- Lowest Life Cycle GHG Emissions: PHS has been found to have lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to other energy storage technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, compressed air energy storage (CAES), and vanadium redox flow batteries.
- Climate Benefits: It supports the transition to a cleaner energy system, which is crucial for reducing carbon emissions by providing grid-scale energy storage that complements variable renewable sources.
Disadvantages and Environmental Impacts
1. Ecosystem Disruption:
- Alteration of Natural Water Courses: Open-loop PHS systems, which are connected to naturally flowing water courses, can disrupt river ecosystems and alter natural water flows, impacting aquatic life and habitats.
- Closed-Loop Systems: While closed-loop systems are less environmentally disruptive because they are not connected to rivers, they can still affect local geology, soils, and groundwater.
2. Construction and Materials:
- Material Usage: The construction of PHS facilities requires significant amounts of materials like concrete, steel, sand, and gravel, which can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions during their production and transportation.
- Land Use and Visual Impact: Large areas of land are required for reservoirs, potentially affecting terrestrial ecosystems and causing visual impacts on landscapes.
Comparison with Other Energy Storage Technologies
| Technology | Environmental Impact | Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
|---|---|---|
| Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS) | Can disrupt natural ecosystems, affects local geology, and uses substantial materials for construction. | Low life cycle GHG emissions. |
| Lithium-Ion Batteries | Material extraction issues (e.g., lithium and cobalt mining environmental impacts), disposal problems. | Higher life cycle GHG emissions than PHS. |
| Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) | Can affect geological structures and leakage issues. | Lower GHG emissions than most battery technologies when coupled with fossil fuels, but higher than PHS. |
| Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries | Less material extraction issues, but still requires some mined materials. | Generally higher GHG emissions than PHS. |
In summary, while PHS offers significant climate benefits due to its low greenhouse gas emissions compared to other energy storage options, it can have substantial environmental impacts related to ecosystem disruption and resource consumption during construction. Closed-loop systems may help mitigate some of these impacts compared to traditional open-loop designs.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-environmental-impacts-of-pumped-hydro-storage-compared-to-other-energy-storage-solutions/
