Latvia pumped hydropower storage project

What is pumped storage hydropower (PSH)?

Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) currently accounts for over 90% of storage capacity and stored energy in grid scale applications globally. The current storage volume of PSH stations is at least 9,000 GWh, whereas batteries amount to just 7-8 GWh.

Can a hydropower plant be retrofitted with a pumping system?

Existing conventional hydropower plants can be retrofitted with pumping systems to integrate PHS capabilities. Currently, PHS can be considered a very versatile energy storage solution owing to its functionality over a wide range of timescales.

Who visits Drax pumped storage hydro power station?

Drax (2019), “Scottish Energy Minister visits Drax’s iconic Cruachan pumped storage hydro power station”, 24 October, press_release/scottish-energy-minister-visits-draxs-iconic-cruachan-pumped-storage-hydro-power-station.

What is pumped hydropower storage (PHS)?

Note: PHS = pumped hydropower storage. The transition to renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar, requires increased flexibility in power systems. Wind and solar generation are intermittent and have seasonal variations, resulting in increased need for storage to guarantee that the demand can be met at any time.

What is the global pumped hydro Atlas?

The global pumped hydro atlas lists 820,000 sites in the size range of 2-5000 GWh with a combined storage of 86 million Gigawatt-hours. This is equivalent to 2 trillion electric vehicle batteries. The atlas includes premium sites (cost-class AAA and AA), and lower quality sites (cost classes A, B, C, D and E).

Can a PSHP be converted into a pump storage hydropower plant?

Usually, such PSHPs are constructed as green field solutions, but in some cases conversion of a hydropower plant into a pump storage hydropower plant by building a pump station is possible. To evaluate the feasibility of such modernisation it is necessary to estimate the benefits of PSHP operation.