For years, we’ve been told that solar panels and wind turbines are the future of renewable energy. And while it’s true that these technologies have made significant strides, there’s another player in the game that’s been quietly providing a crucial service to the grid: pumped hydro storage (PHS). This old-school technology has been around since the 1920s, but its importance cannot be overstated. In fact, I’d argue that PHS is the true unsung hero of the renewable energy revolution.
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Before you dismiss me as a PHS zealot, let me explain why I think this is the case. You see, PHS doesn’t get the same level of attention as its flashy, high-tech counterparts. It’s not as glamorous as a solar farm or a wind farm, and it doesn’t have the same “cool factor” as a Tesla battery. But what PHS lacks in style, it more than makes up for in substance.
So, what exactly is PHS? In simple terms, it’s a system that uses excess energy from a power plant to pump water from a lower reservoir to a higher one, creating a gravitational energy surplus. When the grid needs power, the water is released back down to the lower reservoir, generating electricity through hydroelectric turbines. It sounds straightforward, but the implications are profound.
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For one, PHS has an incredible capacity factor – that is, it can operate at or near capacity for long periods of time, unlike many other forms of renewable energy. In fact, some PHS facilities can operate at 90% capacity for the entire year. This makes it an ideal partner for intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind, which can’t always provide power when the grid needs it.
But what really sets PHS apart is its scalability. Currently, there are over 150,000 MW of PHS capacity globally, with many more projects in development. That’s more than double the installed capacity of all the solar panels in the world. And because PHS can be easily expanded or contracted depending on energy demand, it provides a level of flexibility that’s hard to match.
So, why haven’t we heard more about PHS? One reason is that it’s an old technology, and old technologies often get left behind as newer, flashier options come along. But another reason is that PHS has traditionally been used to provide peaking power – that is, electricity during periods of high demand. As the grid becomes increasingly reliant on variable renewable energy sources, the need for peaking power is decreasing. But this doesn’t mean PHS is obsolete – it just means it needs to adapt.
In fact, there are already signs that PHS is evolving to meet the changing needs of the grid. Advances in materials science and computer modeling are allowing PHS facilities to be designed and optimized for specific applications, like frequency regulation or energy storage for electric vehicles.
So, the next time you hear someone talking about the future of renewable energy, I hope you’ll remember the humble hero that is pumped hydro storage. It may not be the flashiest technology, but it’s a proven workhorse that’s been providing a crucial service to the grid for decades. And as the energy landscape continues to evolve, it’s likely that PHS will be playing an increasingly important role.
