Novel methods of increasing the storage volume at Pumped Storage Power plants

Abstract

The paper presents two novel concepts of increasing the energy storage capacity at pumped storage power plants, both existing and new projects. The concepts utilize compressed air as a working medium to displace water from a volume originally not available for storage. The concepts are likely to give additional storage volume at a low cost, however, much development and many investigations are needed before the concepts can be shown to be technical and economical feasible solutions for energy storage. The concepts are disclosed so that researchers and utilities can start those investigations, hopefully helping the green transition by providing highly valuable energy storage for a future renewable energy having a much higher share of renewable energies than the current systems.