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U N C L A S S I F I E D Slide 1
Modular Pumped Hydro for Grid Energy Storage
Renewable Energy Storage Working Group Meeting for the State of New Mexico
Mark L. Bibeault Los Alamos National Laboratory
Applied Engineering Technology, AET-1
August 27, 2014
LAUR-14-26722
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U N C L A S S I F I E D Slide 2
Why Energy Storage? Best Utilize Our Water and Fuel Resources.
Figure I-1 of “Energy Demands on Water Resources, A Report to Congress”, US DOE, December 2006.
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U N C L A S S I F I E D Slide 3
The Holes That We Dig and Must Fill. (It’s Mind Boggling!)
% Net US Fuel Consumption (2009) Electric Generation
Slide 16 of presentation “Will There be Enough Energy for All in the 21’st Century”, LA-UR-06-2989, 2006, by Rajan Gupta.
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U N C L A S S I F I E D Slide 4
Total US Fuel (Electric Gen) and Water Usage (More Mind Boggling)
Figure II-1 of “Energy Demands on Water Resources, A Report to Congress”, US DOE, December 2006.
US Energy Information Administration/Electric Power Monthly, March 2010, Table ES1.B for 2009, for all sectors.
% Net US Fuel Consumption (2009) Electric Generation
3.95 x 109 MW-hrs across all sectors
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U N C L A S S I F I E D Slide 5
How Does Energy Storage Fit In? Variable/Uncertain Generation Requires
Increased Need for Grid Flexibility
Adapted From Figure on pg. 7 “Load Profile for a Large Scale Energy Storage Facility,” from “Energy Storage—The Missing Link in the Electricity Value Chain, An Energy Storage Council White Paper,” copyright May, 2002.
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U N C L A S S I F I E D Slide 6
How Does Energy Storage Fit In? Variable/Uncertain Generation Requires
Increased Need for Grid Flexibility
Adapted From Figure on pg. 7 “Load Profile for a Large Scale Energy Storage Facility,” from “Energy Storage—The Missing Link in the Electricity Value Chain, An Energy Storage Council White Paper,” copyright May, 2002.
Or Renewables Or Renewables
Variable Generation Example (i.e. Renewables)
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
To Be Fair…….. There are Several Ways to Provide Grid flexibility
(It’s All About Economics and Risk!)
Slide 7
Paul Denholm et. el, “The Role of Energy Storage with Renewable Electricity Generation”, Fig 4.10, Technical Report NREL/TP-6A2-47187, January 2010.
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
We’ll Continue with Energy Storage
Slide 8
Slide 15 from presentation by Aiden Tuohy and Dan Rastler of Electric Power Research Institute, “Wind Integration And Energy Storage”, MISO Energy Storage Workshop, June 29, 2011.
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U N C L A S S I F I E D Slide 9
Slide 15 from presentation by Aiden Tuohy and Dan Rastler of Electric Power Research Institute, “Wind Integration And Energy Storage”, MISO Energy Storage Workshop, June 29, 2011.
This is area of interest!
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U N C L A S S I F I E D Slide 10
Slide 20 from presentation by Aiden Tuohy and Dan Rastler of Electric Power Research Institute, “Wind Integration And Energy Storage”, MISO Energy Storage Workshop, June 29, 2011.
Today, Energy Storage Penetration is Actually Very Small
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
Growth in Conventional Pumped Hydro Faces Challenges
Slide 11
Change the Paradigm!
Hoover Dam from Wikipedia.
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
Basic Concept of Pumped Hydro 70 - 80% Efficient (Full cycle)
Slide 12
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
View of Reversible Francis Turbine/Pump
Slide 13
One of 6 turbines for Grand Coulee Dam project, Columbia River, State of Washington, each rated at 750 MW, from the Bureau of Reclamation via Wikipedia.
One of
From Fig 1.3 of Thesis for Doctor of Philosophy, “Numerical Investigations of Turbulent Flow in Water Turbines”, Hakan Nilsson, Department of Thermo and Fluid Dynamics, Chalmers University of Technology, Goteborg, Sweden, 2002. Picture courtesy of GE Energy (Sweden) AB.
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
Modular Pumped Hydro(MPH) Design Philosophy
Slide 14
Modular size enables design Ring embankment, earth fill Reservoirs covered & lined Leakage recycled Catch rainfall Complimentary solar siting 20 to 300 m head 0.5 to 300 MW power rating Up to 12 hrs discharge Build above ground where feasible Minimize effects on local environment Coatings allow water quality range Per reservoir
• Approx. 1000 acre-ft volume • Approx. 10 acres surface area • Located flat top mountain with flat basin
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
Modular Pumped Hydro(MPH) Operation
Slide 15
Up to 1 GW-hr electric storage Closed-loop pumped hydro technology “Smart-Sited” near existing production,
transmission, and water infrastructure “Smart-Sited” away from endangered
species, environmentally sensitive areas Permit/Build/Commission < 4 yrs Total Cost < 2 $/W “Black Start” capability Emergency backup capability Depending upon configuration,
simultaneously store and produce Total Operating Cost < 10 mills/kW-hr < 1 minute zero to full power < 10 minutes max. storage rate
to max. production rate
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
Modular Pumped Hydro(MPH) Water Management
Slide 16
Evaporation controlled by cover Seepage and permeation controlled by
liner Sum of rainfall minus evaporation,
seepage and permeation losses equal net zero over life of facility
System charge duration (flexible): • 18 – 24 months (< 2 acre-ft/day) full capacity • > 24 months with delayed capacity
Fresh to brackish sources (site specific): • Rainfall • Groundwater • Surface (temporary flumes/pumps)
Periodic maintenance: • Aerate using solar energy • Remove settled out solids • Remove weeds mechanically • Vacuum covers
Opportunities to integrate with
existing municipality infrastructure
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
Modular Pumped Hydro (MPH) Example # 1 Case Study for Discovery Day
Location: 200 MW NM Wind Center, Vaughn, NM Store energy 20 hrs per day, release to grid 4 hrs per day (during peak demand) 22.5% Wind Farm operational cycle H = 400 ft (122 m), Reservoir Volume = 1639 acre-ft Energy Storage Power = 250 MW Total energy released = 281,600 MW-hrs*
Table 1 : Financial Results
Item Result
Normalized Capital Cost ($/W) 1.80 Yearly Profit used for loan payments ($M)* 24.6
Total Cost ($M) 450
Loan Interest (%) 4.00
Monthly Loan Payment ($M) 2.05 Payback, not including electricity price increases (yrs) 32.8 *From energy storage facility, includes operating cost of 10 mills/kWh.
Slide 17
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
Modular Pumped Hydro (MPH) Example #2 Case/Cost Study for SFCC
Slide 18
This study is still ongoing (final results not available)
Existing infrastructure: • Two water treatment ponds • 60 feet of useful elevation head
New infrastructure: • 1.5 MW DC output solar array • Micro-Modular grid
Goal is to eliminate on-peak surcharges Energy storage capacity: 3000-6000 kWh Reservoir volumes: 60-150 acre-ft Energy storage power: 0.5-1 MW Potential savings per year = 100k$
Implications for Regional Energy
Storage Facilities
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
Modular Pumped Hydro (MPH) Example #2 Case/Cost Study for SFCC (Continued)
Slide 19
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U N C L A S S I F I E D
Modular Pumped Hydro(MPH) Rethinking the Possibilities
Slide 20
Many people have supported me We want to make this a viable
option for many communities Thank you
Any Questions?