How does a pumped storage hydropower plant work?

Image from IKM 3D. Pumped storage hydropower facilities rely on two reservoirs at different elevations to store and generate energy. When other power plants generate more electricity than the grid needs, a PSH plant can use that power to pump water into the upper reservoir.

Will SRP build a pumped storage hydropower facility?

The pumped storage hydropower facility would require construction of a new reservoir to act as the upper reservoir and additional transmission infrastructure to connect to SRP’s existing 500-kilovolt (kV) Coronado-Silver King transmission line near the intersection of SR188 and SR288.

Is hydropower pumped storage the future of energy storage?

Indeed, for the foreseeable future hydropower pumped storage stands alone as the only commercially proven technology available for grid- scale energy storage. The last decade has seen tremendous growth of wind and solar generation in response to favorable tax incentives and other policies.

What is a design basis for a pumped storage hydro-electric project?

Design basis encompass the assumptions made by the original engineers, and subsequent engineers as the plants have been modified, to assure safe and reliable operation of the project. The design basis for a pumped storage hydro-electric project must consider many factors to ensure safe and reliable operation of the project.

How many pumped storage projects are there?

Additionally, there currently are 51,310 MWs representing over 60 pumped storage projects in the FERC queue for licensing and permitting. Globally, there are approximately 270 pumped storage plants either operating or under construction, representing a combined generating capacity of over 127,000 megawatts (MW).

What is the hydrologic design basis for a pumped storage facility?

The hydrologic design basis for a pumped storage facility, as for a conventional hydro project, is mainly concerned with determining the appropriate Inflow Design Flood (IDF) and Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) for the project. Guidance on selecting the IDF and PMF can be found in Chapters 2 and 8 of the FERC’s Engineering Guidelines. 1. A. 1.