JRC/UCC pumped storage transformation - site identification methodology

Dr. Paul Leahy, Niall Fitzgerald, University College Cork, Ireland

Roberto Lacal Arántegui, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Energy and Transport, Energy System Evaluation Unit.

JRC workshop on pumped storage, Petten, Netherlands 2-3 April 2012

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Presentation outline

1. Project objectives

2. Database development

3. Topologies A, B and others

4. Methodology implementation

5. Description of data sources used

6. Results: Turkey & Croatia

7. Limitations of approach

8. Potential improvements

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Project objectives

Background: • Need for storage (and grid interconnection, and demand-side management…) to accommodate more renewables

• Scientific literature plenty of assessment of hydropower potential – but no assessment of PHS potential

• “Surely, it would be easier (and have less environmental impact) if PHS is based on existing reservoirs”

Summary of objectives:To assess the technical and realisable potential for new pumped hydropower storage (PHS), based on existing reservoirs, by using a cost-effective approach (GIS) that can later be escalated to assess the European potential.

Be practical! Apply the methodology

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In practical terms…

JRC call for tenders (2010) on “analysis of the possibilities for transformation of no-hydropower dams and reservoir hydropower schemes into pumping hydropower schemes in Europe”

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Task 1: Development of the methodology

Task 2: Creation of database

Task 3: Apply methodology

Task 4: Identify barriers

Task 5: Identify topics for future research

Database development

Necessary in order to apply the methodology

Aim: • to develop a database of dams and hydropower schemes either > 1 million m3 or > 1 MW.

• “Dams” taken as a proxy for reservoirs

Covering:• EU, EFTA, Western Balkans, EU candidate/potential candidate countries

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Database description

• 6424 entries, some reservoirs have more than one dam

Primary source: International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) database

• These are not-geo-referenced!

Secondary source: Global Reservoir and Dam (GRanD) project

• Approx. 20% of European dams in ICOLD are geo-referenced in GRanD

Further work: manual georeferencing of dams using Google Earth.

• Each dam was searched for based on the ICOLD “nearest town” field.

• When a dam was located, it was verified visually in Google Earth where possible, by comparing it with the picture of the dam if available

• This is the method used by GRanD

Georeferencing only complete for Croatian and Turkish sites.

Workload as high as 7/10 reservoirs/hour when the language is a problem

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Potential dam

site/ Existing dam

Existing dam/

Potential dam site

Head

Penstock and

equipment

Methodology description– topology A “Topology A (TA)

consists of adding to an existing dam a second reservoir (normally higher) plus penstock and equipment”.

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Topology A example

Dinorwig, Wales, UK 8

Existing upper

reservoir

Existing lower

reservoir

Head

Penstock and

equipment

Methodology description– topology B

“Topology B (TB) consists of adding generation and pumping equipment between two nearby dams (existing natural lakes can also be considered one of the two reservoirs in TB). These dams might be in the same river or in parallel valleys”.

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Topology B example

Limberg II, Austria 10

Other possible topologies

Topology C: using an old, abandoned pit or quarry as existing reservoir (in TA), or used as new (e.g. upper) reservoir if geography so permits.

Topology D: “pump-back” in an existing 2-dam system a penstock and a pump are added to send water back from the lower reservoir to the upper one.

Topology E: the lower reservoir is the sea and the upper reservoir is build above cliffs close to the sea. This topology was implemented for the first time in Okinawa, Japan

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Methodologyoverview

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Theoretical potential

Physical realisable potential TA

Environmental sensitivity

Inhabited sites

Grid infrastructure

Physical realisable potential TB

Eliminate overlaps

Global country potential

Constraints

Topographical

analysis

Physical theoretical potential TA

Topology A

Topographical

analysis

Physical theoretical potential TB

Topology B

Transport infrastructure

Topology Aimplementation

For each existing dam:

• Search within a buffer

zone for potential second

reservoir sites based on

elevation and flatness

criteria

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Calculate slope of areas inside buffer zones

Select areas with slope between 0 and 5 degree

Select areas with average elevation 150 meters

above the dam under test

Buffer placed around dams under test

Calculate average elevation in the area with slope

between 0 and 5 degree with slope

Each dam has a number of potential reservoir

sites. Filter sites with largest energy storage in

GWh

Existing dam

1km->5 km

Topology Bimplementation

Existing dam

0.5km->2.5km

Existing dam

0.5km->2.5km

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• 5 km site separation scenario:

– Each dam location has a 2.5 km buffer placed around it and wherever buffers intersect, this represents a potential transformation site.

GIS tool

Developed in ESRI ArcGIS 9.3 using model builder function

GIS is based on multiple “layers” each representing some physical features

• Elevation

• Land cover

Features may be polygons (2D); rasters (2D); features (0D); etc.

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GIS data layers

Method is extensible

•Other layers, e.g. RAMSAR sites, can be included

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Country Map File

Elevation Data File

Transport Infrastructure

Water Bodies

Grid Infrastructure

Inhabited Areas

Overall Country Map Made up of Shapefile Layers

Environmental Sensitivity

Natura 2000

EUROPARC Federation

UNESCO

SAC

National Park

Dam Locations

Energy storage calculation

E = energy storage capacity in Wh

η = efficiency (in general ranging 0.75 to 0.80)

ρ = density (kg/m3) (~ 1000 kg/m3 for water)

g = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2)

h = falling height, head (m)

V = Volume of water in the upper reservoir (m3)

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3600

ηρ ∗∗∗∗=

VhgE

BUT:

• No account for head losses

• No account for reserve water

GIS data sources

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Country Map File

Elevation Data File

Transport Infrastructure

Water Bodies

Grid Infrastructure

Inhabited Areas

Environmental Sensitivity

Natura 2000

EUROPARC Federation

UNESCO

SAC

National Park

Dam Locations

DIVA-GIS

SRTM

CORINE

2006

CORINE

DIVA-GIS

GENI

Natura2000

unesco.org

General Results

5km buffer used

Applications of constraints eliminated few sites

TA potentials >> TB potentials

Number TA sites >> number TB sites

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Croatia –key results

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• Country potential: – 13 sites

– 60 GWh capacity

• Natura 2000 constraint has a considerable effect

– disqualifies over half of suitable sites

• No Topology B solutions for Croatia

Turkey –key results

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• Topology A potentials: – 448 theoretical sites

– 444 realisable sites

– 3817 GWh capacity

• Natura 2000 not implemented

• Topology B:– 3 theoretical sites

– 2 realisable sites

– 3.0 GWh

Assessment of approach

Model is not a fully 3D approach

•We have used a flatness criterion to select second reservoir sites (Topology A)

• However, model runs quickly on standard hardware

• Some parameters by necessity are estimates based on experience� Unusual configurations may not be identified

• Limitations of input data (SRTM, constraints)

• Confusion on the definition of the different potentials

• Long-term PHS storage unlikely to be picked up!

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The hard reality:

• Does a 5-km limitation make sense? The VelebitPHS (HR) has 20 km from the upper to the lower reservoir

• Does a minimum 150-m head make sense?

• Should energy calculation be modified?

• Problems to find grid data (better data coming)

• Better quality data might be available only for a fee (e.g. DEM)

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Further work

More detailed testing based on existing known sites

Further constraints

• Hydrological (inflow, evaporation, floods)

• Geological (Karst etc.)

• Soils (stability, peats,…)

Fully 3D approach

• Estimate cut & fill volumes.

• Convexity calculation?

Improved source data

Multi-criteria analysis implemented in GIS

Introduction of a costing methodology

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Relevant links

JRC project report

• Available at setis.ec.europa.eu• http://setis.ec.europa.eu/newsroom-items-folder/new-jrc-report-explores-potential-for-transformation-in-pumped-hydro-energy-storage

Published article in “Energy”

• dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2012.02.044

Related IEE stoRE project :

• www.store-project.eu

UCC Sustainable Energy Research Group:

• www.ucc.ie/en/serg

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Discussion

Turlough Hill 292 MW PHS, commissioned 1974Image © ESB

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