Low-head pumped hydro energy storage: Maximising the round-trip efficiency to increase competitiveness for providing grid services
Prasasti, E.B.; Joseph, M.; Truijen, D.P.K.; Zangeneh, M.; De Kooning, J.D.M.; Stockman, K.; Terheiden, K. (2025). Low-head pumped hydro energy storage: Maximising the round-trip efficiency to increase competitiveness for providing grid services. Journal of Energy Storage 135: 118192. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2025.118192
In: Journal of Energy Storage. Elsevier: Amsterdam. ISSN 2352-152X; e-ISSN 2352-1538, more
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| Author keywords |
Low-head pumped hydro energy storage;Contra-rotating;Variable speed;Reversible pump-turbine;Power take-off;Bulb design;Round-trip efficiency;Operation scenario;wind power;daily operation;system;optimization;generation;design;feasibility;plant;solar |
| Authors | | Top |
- Prasasti, E.B.
- Joseph, M.
- Truijen, D.P.K., more
- Zangeneh, M.
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- De Kooning, J.D.M., more
- Stockman, K., more
- Terheiden, K.
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| Abstract |
According to the European-Green-Deal, the demand for deployment of storage technologies is predetermined to increase the share of renewable energy sources e.g. solar/wind in electricity generation. Pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) systems represent a well-developed storage technology. Traditionally, PHES systems are established in mountainous regions, but lowland countries with huge offshore wind parks lack such regions. Therefore, new developments in low-head turbomachinery, power take-off (PTO) units and operation schemes are needed to shape low-head PHES towards a viable future technology (performance/investment). Hence, a novel contra-rotating, variable-speed, reversible pump-turbine and PTO design for low-head operation is developed with an optimised round-trip efficiency (RTE) to guarantee competitiveness to other energy storage system (ESS) technologies. The investigations demonstrate that high RTE over 72 %, comparable to those of high-head PHES systems, can be reached. Operation scenarios "best efficiency" show a higher RTE than "10 MW constant power output'' due to wider operation ranges (fallhead/discharge) at high efficiencies. Additionally, larger dam sizes lead to a higher RTE due to higher operation flexibilities but with higher investment costs. Furthermore, the novel offshore low-head pumped hydro energy storage (LH-PHES) design benefits, besides its highly efficient operation, from being insensitive to climate change impacts, floods/droughts, extreme temperature changes compared to e.g. alpine PHES or batteries. |
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