The main energy losses associated with the pumping process in pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHS) can be outlined as follows:
- Hydraulic and Electrical Losses: PHS facilities experience both mechanical and electrical inefficiencies during the pumping and generation phases. This includes losses in turbines and pumps, as well as in transmission lines.
- Energy Conversion Losses: The process of converting electrical energy into potential energy (by pumping water to a higher reservoir) and back into electrical energy (by releasing water to generate power) results in efficiency losses. The round-trip efficiency of PHS typically ranges between 70% and 80%.
- Pumping Phase Energy Consumption: During periods of low electricity demand, PHS plants consume electricity to pump water back into the upper reservoir. This operation makes PHS systems net consumers of energy, as they use more power to pump water than they generate when releasing it.
- Evaporation and Seepage Losses: Additionally, there are losses due to evaporation from the exposed water surface in the reservoirs and potential seepage into the surrounding ground, though these are generally smaller compared to the energy conversion losses.
These losses are integral to the PHS system’s design, yet PHS remains a vital component in balancing load on power grids and ensuring operational efficiency for other power plants.
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