Pumped StorageCharting Hydropower’s Role in the Next-Generation Grid
Lead Companies
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Lead Researcher (s)
- Stuart Cohen
To build a 100% clean energy power sector, the United States is adding more energy storage and variable renewable energy sources, like solar power and wind energy, to the grid. Hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH) can help with both. These technologies already play a key role in providing flexible, low-carbon electricity to the U.S. power grid, and this role will become even more valuable as that grid evolves. That’s why researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are analyzing how the U.S. electricity sector could invest in hydropower and PSH using new data and modeling capabilities.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Research Sub-Category
Status
complete
Completion Date
2022
- Pumped Storage
Improved Cost Estimates To Boost Pumped Storage Hydropower Construction
Lead Companies
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Lead Researcher (s)
- Daniel Inman
Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) facilities are like large batteries that use water and gravity. They can store up to 12 hours' worth of clean, renewable energy and send that power to the grid the moment it’s needed (for comparison, batteries provide about 4 hours of energy storage). As the United States' power grid evolves, receiving more variable clean energy sources, like solar power and wind energy, PSH plants could play a key role in ensuring that the grid is not only carbon-free but also reliable and resilient. Today, PSH is often overlooked in future grid planning efforts, in part because the cost to build a new facility is not always clear. That’s why the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), along with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office, is developing improved cost estimates and cost models to reduce that uncertainty and give developers the data they need to decide where and when to construct new PSH facilities to support the country’s evolving energy grid."
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Technology
Research Sub-Category
Status
complete
Completion Date
2022
Conventional HydroAdvanced Manufacturing Roadmap Development
Lead Companies
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Mirko Musa ([email protected])
During the last decade, advanced manufacturing has revolutionized the energy sector, boosting the U.S. manufacturing industry and opening pathways to increased American competitiveness. While these novel applications of advanced manufacturing have ushered in benefits in other energy sectors, the potential benefits for hydropower applications remain largely unexplored. To improve our understanding and identify key advanced manufacturing technologies for both existing and future hydropower development, this study will establish an advanced manufacturing roadmap/strategy for hydropower to identify high-impact opportunities that address critical challenges for hydropower.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro, Pumped Storage
Research Category
Research Sub-Category
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Conventional Hydro
Test Facility for Hydropower and Pumped Storage Technologies
Lead Companies
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Mirko Musa ([email protected])
Hydropower and pumped-storage growth in the United States is contingent on validation of the safety, environmental acceptability, reliability, and performance of innovative technology that can deploy with significantly reduced costs relative to existing technology. A network of one or more federally supported hydropower test facilities offering technology testing and validation capabilities may be one way to achieve such validation. This project will characterize the requirements for these testing capabilities; catalog the availability of these capabilities within existing test facilities and federal water infrastructures; and summarize findings in the form of a Hydropower Test Facility Scoping Study Report. Beyond hydraulic and related (sediment, biological, safety, and instrumentation and controls) testing, the full spectrum of hydropower and PSH technology testing needs may also include the means to test the major mechanical, electrical, civil/structural sub-systems of hydropower technology. Overall, widespread use of a federally-supported test facility will further WPTO’s goals of commercialization of new technologies and deployment by hydropower owners and operators.
Technology Application
Conventional Hydro, Pumped Storage
Research Category
Research Sub-Category
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Dynamic Modeling of Full Converter Adjustable-speed Pumped Storage Hydropower (FC AS-PSH)
Lead Companies
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Lead Researcher (s)
- Ed Muljadi
Full converter adjustable-speed pumped storage hydropower (FC AS-PSH) technology, as one of advanced-PSH technology, is developed from wind turbine technology. By making the synchronous machine connect to the grid through a full-size converter, FC AS-PSH has a wider adjustment range of speed and a better reactive power control capability compared with a doubly-fed asynchronous generator AS-PSH technology. When it plays as an energy backup in the power system, FC AS-PSH can provide a much faster response than conventional-PSH (C-PSH) which makes this technology provide better ancillary service for a high renewable penetrated system. In this paper, the dynamic modeling of FC AS-PSH is fully studied. We develop a detailed model of this technology in the IEEE 14-bus system based on GE Positive Sequence Load Flow (PSLF) platform. Especially, the first governor model is developed based on the Engineer’s Program Control Language (EPCL) user-defined model in this platform. All operation modes are validated and studied under a system contingency. Besides, comparison cases between FC AS-PSH and C-PSH are studied to show advantages providing from FC AS-PSH when it works with renewable energy.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Research Sub-Category
Status
complete
Completion Date
2021
- Pumped Storage
Pumped Storage Hydropower FAST Commissioning Technical Analysis [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Argonne National Labs
Lead Researcher (s)
- Vladimir Koritarov, [email protected]
This report was developed in tandem with the Furthering Advancements to Shorten Time (FAST) to Commissioning PSH Challenge and represents the underlying technical analysis that informed the competition. Lead by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the report is designed to address barriers and solutions to PSH development by establishing baseline project development knowledge, defining key aspects of project development, and identifying opportunities to reduce project timelines, costs, and risks. The document’s scope includes post-licensing activities and excludes factors related to permitting or licensing. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Regulatory Management Process
Research Sub-Category
Regulatory Process
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Transforming the U.S. Market with a New Application of Ternary-Type Pumped Storage Hydropower Technology [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Lead Researcher (s)
- Greg Stark, [email protected]
The U.S. electrical grid is seeing a huge increase in new renewable energy (RE) generation and, at the same time, a huge amount of thermal generation retirements. This dynamic is changing the traditional operation of the grid and is placing a premium on assets that can provide fast-ramping flexible capacity. Addressing this need, the study’s goals were to assess & quantify how innovative, fast-acting advanced PSH systems can economically solve these grid integration challenges during future high RE contribution scenarios. Project focused on ternary PSH (T-PSH) and quaternary PSH (Q-PSH), coupling them with sophisticated transmission monitoring/control equipment (i.e., dynamic transmission) as a proposed solution.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Markets
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Energy Storage Technology and Cost Characterization Report [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Labs
Lead Researcher (s)
- Vincent Sprenkle, [email protected]
As part of the “Valuation Guidance and Techno-Economic Studies for Pumped Storage Hydropower” project, this report defines and evaluates cost and performance parameters of six battery energy storage system (BESS) technologies and four non-BESS storage technologies. Data for combustion turbines are also presented. Cost information was procured for the most recent year for which data were available based on an extensive literature review, conversations with vendors and stakeholders, and summaries of actual costs provided from specific projects at sites across the United States. Detailed cost and performance estimates were presented for 2018 and projected out to 2025. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Markets
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Valuation Guidance and Techno-Economic Studies for Pumped Storage Hydropower [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Argonne National Labs
Lead Researcher (s)
- Vladimir Koritarov, [email protected]
The objective of this project is to advance state of the art in the assessment of value of PSH plants and their role in the power system. The goal is to develop a detailed step-by-step valuation guidance and apply it to two competitively selected PSH sites to test the valuation methodology and assist the developers in understanding the value streams available from their projects. The project outcomes are: • Develop a comprehensive, repeatable, and transparent valuation guidance that will allow for consistent valuation assessments and comparisons of potential new PSH projects or project design alternatives • Test the PSH valuation guidance and its underlying methodology by applying it to two selected PSH projects • Transfer and disseminate the PSH valuation guidance to the hydropower industry, PSH developers, and other stakeholders Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Markets
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Furthering Advancements to Shorten Time (FAST) Commissioning for Pumped-Storage Hydropower Prize: [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Argonne National Labs
Lead Researcher (s)
- Vladimir Koritarov, [email protected]
Today’s electricity system is changing rapidly and hydropower and PSH have an essential role in contributing to the resilience, reliability, and affordability of the US power system. PSH is by far the largest source of energy storage on the grid, and it will play a key role in supporting increased integration of variable generation resources. But large capital investments and long lead times for PSH commissioning are deterrents to would-be developers and utilities. The goal of the prize is to catalyze new solutions, designs, and strategies to accelerate PSH development by reducing the time, cost and risk to commission PSH. In fall 2019, four technology developer teams were selected to receive cash prizes as well as national lab technical assistance to further develop their ideas. Learn more at: Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Cost Effective Small Scale Pumped Storage Configuration [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Obermeyer Hydro
Lead Researcher (s)
- Greg Stark, [email protected]
Since 2000 only one new pumped storage hydropower project has been constructed in the United States. In order to increase the future opportunity for pumped storage development, reductions in cost and scale are necessary. Historically, pumped storage projects have required large capacity to overcome the fixed costs associated with custom engineering of complex underground structures with associated geological risk. The Obermeyer Hydro submersible pump-turbine offers a standard, scalable solution which reduces underground construction and risk. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Turbine
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Value and Role of Pumped Storage Hydro under High Variable Renewables [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
GE
Lead Researcher (s)
- Miaolei Shao, GE Research
While advanced PSH technologies like variable speed units have existed for some time, none have been installed in the US. As such, market and operations models do not capture the capabilities of these technologies. The overall goal of this project is to overcome a range of market barriers for PSH by helping utility companies understand benefits of PSH that are not well understood or quantified, by demonstrating the capabilities of new PSH technologies such as variable speed PSH, and by helping developers improve PSH revenues with development of a new scheduling optimization tool. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
complete
Completion Date
2021
- Pumped Storage
Modeling and Optimizing Pumped Storage in a Multi-stage Large Scale Electricity Market under Portfolio Evolution [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Lead Researcher (s)
- Rui Bo, [email protected]
PSH plants have been traditionally designed and used for large scale, daily energy arbitrage, but technological developments and changes to grid needs are making flexible operation more prevalent. Market participation models for PSH have not kept up with these changes, which means that the range of energy and ancillary services that PSH plants can provide are not being optimally allocated. The proposed work aims to develop a prototype enhanced PSH model for incorporation into MISO’s multi-stage market clearing process with proper consideration of the unique characteristics of PSH. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Markets
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Predicting Unique Market Pumped Storage Significance [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
EPRI
Lead Researcher (s)
- Aidan Tuohy, [email protected]
While no new PSH plants have been developed in the past two decades, there is renewed interest in the technology due to increases in VRE penetration. The objective of this project is to develop a framework and outline the parameters needed to analyze the energy and ancillary services PSH provides to the electricity grid currently and how that value may change as the generation asset mix—especially as it relates to increased penetration of VRE—changes over time. A key focus will be to develop understanding of the trends that impact PSH value so that utilities can determine strategy for further development of PSH. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Renewable Integration
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Addressing Barriers to Energy Storage in Transmission Planning and Operations [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Pacific Northwest National Labs / Argonne National Labs
Lead Researcher (s)
- Jeremy Twitchell, [email protected]
A complex set of technical and regulatory issues creates significant barriers that prevent PSH and other forms of energy storage from accurate representation in transmission planning and operational processes. These barriers are numerous and complex, and a full evaluation of them has not yet been done. As a result, current transmission planning, deployments and operations may be inefficient and, ultimately, may result in higher costs for customers. This project will identify those barriers, create a proposed participation model for PSH to provide transmission and market functions, and conduct a techno-economic analysis of PSH that fully quantifies its technical capability and economic value as a transmission asset. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Transmission Services
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
PSH Portfolio Evaluation and Innovation Study [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Argonne National Labs
Lead Researcher (s)
- Vladimir Koritarov, [email protected]
PSH, with a total of 22 GW of installed capacity in the United States, represent over 95% of the domestic electric energy storage available today. However, no large PSH projects have been commissioned in the last 20 years due to challenges associated with the magnitude of project costs and financing interest during development and construction; the length of time from project investment until project revenue; permitting challenges and construction risks; competition from other storage technologies; and unrecognized energy storage valuation. To address these challenges, research and development efforts have focused on radically new designs and technologies that can dramatically reduce costs and commissioning timelines. In this study, Argonne National Laboratory will perform a landscape analysis to establish the current state of the art of PSH technology, identify promising new concepts and innovations, and highlight technology gaps that have yet to be addressed. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Markets
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Life Cycle Assessment of Pumped Hydropower Storage [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
NREL
Lead Researcher (s)
- Daniel Inman, [email protected]
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an internationally accepted method for making consistent comparisons among technologies providing the same service based on environmental metrics. LCAs utilize similar inputs as techno-economic analysis (TEA). Traditionally, energy generation technologies have been evaluated through LCA, and in recent years, some energy storage technologies have likewise been evaluated, like pumped storage hydropower. However, with newer forms of energy storage being built, like closed-loop PSH, there is a need for detailed assessment of life cycle environmental impacts of them in a consistent manner to other storage technologies and to TEAs. With advice from an expert review panel, NREL will develop a novel LCA of closed-loop pumped storage hydropower leveraging extant TEAs to inform stakeholders and decision makers such as DOE, ISOs, non-government organizations, and other researchers on credible, objective environmental indicators such as life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, material demands, and net energy that can be fairly and commensurately compared to other storage technologies.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
Real Time Inertia Monitor Based on Pumped Hydro Operation Signatures [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Yilu Liu ([email protected])
This project seeks to develop a real-time, low-cost, accurate inertia monitoring system for pumped storage hydropower plants. Monitoring inertia is essential for stable system operation, especially in high-renewable grids, but traditional inertia estimation approaches do not work in systems with high penetrations of inverter based resources. Researchers will demonstrate and deploy their monitoring system by the end of the two-year project. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Interconnect Integration and Markets
Research Sub-Category
Future Grid
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
PSH Reservoir Lining Study [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Argonne National Labs
Lead Researcher (s)
- Vladimir Koritarov, [email protected]
In response to significant interest from the hydropower industry, this project investigates regulatory challenges and potential research needs related to PSH reservoir liners. The resulting report will cover a literature review and standard industry practices for using polymeric geomembranes as reservoir liners, including examples from the US and worldwide. Metrics related to cost, performance, and regulatory implications will be considered. Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Powerhouse Equipment
Research Sub-Category
Generator
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
- Pumped Storage
PSH Membrane Design and Demonstration [HydroWIRES]
Lead Companies
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
Lead Researcher (s)
- Kevin Stewart ([email protected])
This project explores an innovative idea involving a floating reservoir technology option for closed-loop pumped storage hydropower (PSH) facility configurations. Constructing a conventional lower reservoir to achieve closed-loop status requires major civil works, including substantial blasting and excavating. Although closed-loop PSH is not continuously connected to a natural water body, it is usually sited near a river or lake to reduce the expense of the initial filling, and any necessary refilling, procedure. As such, initial construction activities can have numerous environmental impacts, which when coupled with the major civil works involved, constitutes a significant expense. To minimize these costs and prevent extensive environmental disturbances, an offshore lightweight floating membrane reservoir system that can be easily fabricated and transported to the site has been proposed.
Technology Application
Pumped Storage
Research Category
Research Sub-Category
Status
ongoing
Completion Date
TBD
View Link
