Conventional & Pumped-Storage
What is a conventional hydropower project?
Most conventional hydropower projects consist of: (1) a dam to redirect or impound and redirect a source of water; (2) a turbine to harness the potential energy of the impounded water contained in the reservoir; (3) a generator connected to a turbine; and (4) a transmission line to get the power to the market. Water is diverted downhill from the reservoir to a powerhouse where it is directed through the turbine. The weight of the water in the reservoir pushes the water through the penstock and the turbine causing the turbine to spin. The turbine is attached to the generator, and as the turbine and generator spin the generator creates electricity, which enters the market via the transmission line.
What is a pumped-storage project?
Pumped storage projects consist of: (1) two reservoirs, an upper and a lower; (2)a reversible turbine/generator assembly that can act as a water pump or a turbine(pump-turbine); (3) a penstock; and (4) a transmission line to get the power to the market. Pumped-storage projects act as rechargeable batteries on the electric grid and produce and supply electricity during peak demand. At times of low electrical demand, electricity is used by the generator to reverse the direction of the pump-turbine and pump water from the lower reservoir through the penstocks and up into the upper reservoir. The water is stored in the upper reservoir until the demand for electricity is high. The water is then released from the upper reservoir back through the penstock and the pump-turbine into the lower reservoir, the pump-turbine generates electricity from the flow of the water, and the power enters the market via the transmission line.
Quick Links
Contact
Podcast Title
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros
What is a conventional hydropower project?
Most conventional hydropower projects consist of: (1) a dam to redirect or impound and redirect a source of water; (2) a turbine to harness the potential energy of the impounded water contained in the reservoir; (3) a generator connected to a turbine; and (4) a transmission line to get the power to the market. Water is diverted downhill from the reservoir to a powerhouse where it is directed through the turbine. The weight of the water in the reservoir pushes the water through the penstock and the turbine causing the turbine to spin. The turbine is attached to the generator, and as the turbine and generator spin the generator creates electricity, which enters the market via the transmission line.
What is a pumped-storage project?
Pumped storage projects consist of: (1) two reservoirs, an upper and a lower; (2)a reversible turbine/generator assembly that can act as a water pump or a turbine(pump-turbine); (3) a penstock; and (4) a transmission line to get the power to the market. Pumped-storage projects act as rechargeable batteries on the electric grid and produce and supply electricity during peak demand. At times of low electrical demand, electricity is used by the generator to reverse the direction of the pump-turbine and pump water from the lower reservoir through the penstocks and up into the upper reservoir. The water is stored in the upper reservoir until the demand for electricity is high. The water is then released from the upper reservoir back through the penstock and the pump-turbine into the lower reservoir, the pump-turbine generates electricity from the flow of the water, and the power enters the market via the transmission line.
