TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-head pumped hydro storage
T2 - A review on civil structure designs, legal and environmental aspects to make its realization feasible in seawater
AU - Ansorena Ruiz, R.
AU - de Vilder, L. H.
AU - Prasasti, E. B.
AU - Geisseler, B.
AU - Scanu, S.
AU - Roeber, V.
AU - Marence, M.
AU - Moll, R.
AU - Bricker, J. D.
AU - More Authors, null
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - The energy transition requires large-scale storage to provide long-term supply and short-term grid stability. Though pumped hydro storage is widely used for this purpose, regions without natural topography do not have the potential for traditional high-head pumped hydro storage. To address this, multiple projects for low-head and seawater pumped hydro storage have been proposed, though few have been implemented. Here, we review the state of the art of the components of low-head seawater pumped hydro storage projects, for construction in shallow seas or integrated into coastal defenses. We reference all civil infrastructure components, in addition to legal, environmental/biological, and financial constraints, drawing knowledge from proposed, planned, and constructed tidal power and seawater pumped hydro storage projects worldwide. Combining this knowledge, we make a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility for low-head seawater pumped hydro storage in the North Sea. We find that an elevated storage basin is more economical than an excavated one in shallow bathymetry (10 m deep or less), while the reverse is true in deeper water. Corrosion and fouling prevention are already well developed due to implementation of these measures at tidal power plants. Dam construction is feasible if measures are taken to address piping, macro-instability (primarily from rapid drawdown), and bursting of the clay layer. Within the context of Europe, legal and environmental regulations may be the most formidable hurdles to such projects.
AB - The energy transition requires large-scale storage to provide long-term supply and short-term grid stability. Though pumped hydro storage is widely used for this purpose, regions without natural topography do not have the potential for traditional high-head pumped hydro storage. To address this, multiple projects for low-head and seawater pumped hydro storage have been proposed, though few have been implemented. Here, we review the state of the art of the components of low-head seawater pumped hydro storage projects, for construction in shallow seas or integrated into coastal defenses. We reference all civil infrastructure components, in addition to legal, environmental/biological, and financial constraints, drawing knowledge from proposed, planned, and constructed tidal power and seawater pumped hydro storage projects worldwide. Combining this knowledge, we make a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility for low-head seawater pumped hydro storage in the North Sea. We find that an elevated storage basin is more economical than an excavated one in shallow bathymetry (10 m deep or less), while the reverse is true in deeper water. Corrosion and fouling prevention are already well developed due to implementation of these measures at tidal power plants. Dam construction is feasible if measures are taken to address piping, macro-instability (primarily from rapid drawdown), and bursting of the clay layer. Within the context of Europe, legal and environmental regulations may be the most formidable hurdles to such projects.
KW - Low-head hydro
KW - Maritime structures
KW - Pumped hydro storage
KW - Renewable energy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85125594803&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.rser.2022.112281
DO - 10.1016/j.rser.2022.112281
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85125594803
SN - 1364-0321
VL - 160
JO - Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
JF - Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
M1 - 112281
ER -