Pumped hydro storage (PHS) offers several key advantages over lithium-ion batteries:
Efficiency and Cost
Higher efficiency (up to 90% round-trip efficiency) compared to lithium-ion batteries (50-80% efficiency). PHS systems also have lower lifetime costs due to decades-long operational lifespans with minimal maintenance.
Long-Duration Storage
PHS excels at grid-scale, long-duration storage (hours to days), whereas lithium-ion batteries are optimized for shorter-duration needs (minutes to hours). This makes PHS critical for balancing multi-day renewable energy gaps.
Sustainability
PHS generates zero direct greenhouse gas emissions during operation and uses water as its primary resource. Lithium-ion batteries rely on mining-intensive materials (e.g., lithium, cobalt) and face recycling challenges.
Grid Services
PHS provides essential grid stability services like frequency regulation and inertia, which are harder to achieve with battery systems. It can ramp up to full capacity within minutes to meet sudden demand spikes.
Lifespan
PHS infrastructure often operates 50+ years, while lithium-ion batteries typically require replacement every 10-15 years.
Energy Density vs. Scalability
While batteries have higher energy density (suitable for compact applications), PHS offers unmatched scalability for terawatt-hour-level storage in regions with suitable geography.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-main-advantages-of-pumped-hydro-storage-over-lithium-ion-batteries/
