Most studies of European 100% renewable energy look over pumped Hydro energy storage (Phes), for the following, incorrect reasons: there are few Phes sites; More dams on rivers are required; Large areas are flooded; Large amounts of water are required; There are a major environmental costs; And the capital costs of Phes are high. All these perceptions are wrong.
Winter energy in Europe
With its northern latitude, the availability of solar sun in Europe is poor. In the winter, a Ontkarstic Europe will mainly depend on solar energy that is generated in the south and wind energy in the north. Large-scale long-term energy storage is needed to continue for days or even weeks of bad solar and wind availability.
Fortunately, Europe has unlimited, cheap, ready-made, low environment, low environment, long-term, long-term, off-river pumped hydro energy storage (PHES), which requires small amounts of land and water and does not need new dams on rivers.
Pumped hydro energy storage
Phes offers approximately 95% of the global long -term (urend days) energy storage (GWH). Batteries offer storage in the short term (a few hours) with a powerful (GW). Fools and batteries unload energy storage together.
The Global Pomped Hydro Atlas Gives a list of 820,000 sites in the size of 2-5000 GWH with a combined storage of 86 million gigawatt hours. This corresponds to batteries of 2 trillion electric vehicles.
The Atlas comprises premium sites (AAA and AA) and Sites of lower quality (as a, B, C, D and E). Premium Phes sites are characterized by Large head (> 500 m), walls with a low volume, short pressure tunnels, large -scale (> 40 GWH) and long duration (> 100 hours).
Europe has more than 6000 Premium Phes sites with a combined storage of around 1100 Terawatt hours, which is about 40 times more storage than required for a fully electrified and low -carbon Europe. There are also many sites of lesser quality (classes AE).
The capital costs of long -term Phes of premium quality is in the reach from $ 8-25 per kWh. For example, Snowy 2.0 bees In Australia (AA class) costs around $ 12 billion for 350 GWh of energy storage and 2.2 GW storage power (160 hours expensive). This corresponds to US $ 22/kWh, which is much lower than batteries for a system that lasts 100 years.
Clean hydrogen has been considered for long -term energy storage. This is inhibited by the low return efficiency of electricity hydrogen electricity and the high costs of electrolysis. However, large amounts of clean hydrogen are needed to produce chemicals and synthetic aviation fuel that can effectively store energy in itself.
Unlimited Phes
Most studies of European 100% renewable energy look Phes, for the following (incorrect) Reasons: there are few Phes sites; More dams on rivers are required; Large areas are flooded; Large amounts of water are required; There are a major environmental costs; And the capital costs of Phes are high. All these perceptions are wrong.
No new dams on rivers: Phes is traditionally associated with dams on rivers. However, most Phes locations are away from rivers (“off-river”), for the simple reason that most of the landscape is not close to a river.
Europe has an excellent Phes potential in Norway, in the Alps and in the south. Northern Europe, however, lacks good sites. Fortunately, high -voltage transfer makes sharing both energy and storage throughout Europe. Strong transmission networks smooth out the effects of locally and therefore reduce storage requirements.
Image: Ises
Land Requirements for Phe’s are very small. The image below shows a synthetic image of a 5000 GWH site with pop-up information boxes with 26 information items. This single site has sufficient storage for 100 million fully electrified and low -carbon people and is equal to 100 million batteries for electric vehicles. Five such sites can offer all storage that Europe needs.
The combined flooded area is 60 km2 (0.6 m2 Per person) that is 100x smaller than the area occupied by the solar farms that supports the storage and is 20x smaller than the parking lot occupied by 100 million vehicles.
The capital costs of this system are around € 100 billion and are a huge local economic opportunity. This amounts to just € 1000 per person for 100-year-old Lifetime storage.
Image: Ises
Water requirements for Phe’s are small Because the same water goes up and down for 100 years between the reservoirs. In dry areas, small amounts of water may be needed to replace evaporation. The amount of water required for the initial infill and to replace evaporation is a few liters per person per day, which corresponds to 20 seconds of a morning shower.
Environment -Impact of Phes is low Due to the lack of new dams on important rivers, the small land and water requirements, the absence of electrochemicals, the long service life (100 years) and the abundant choice of off-river locations (causing sensitive locations).
Hybrid energy systems
Phes is much cheaper than batteries for energy storage (GWH). However, batteries are cheaper than Phes for Storage Capacity (GW). Hybrid Phe’s and battery systems provide very cheap energy storage and cheap storage power, by allowing Storage to Druppel charging storage When energy prices are high or negative.
Worldwide solar and wind capacity is installed six times faster than the other combined. Electrification of transport, heating and industry will question whether triple electricity demand will double. Fortunately, solar energy, wind, Phes, batteries and transmission are available ready-made to decipher Europe at affordable costs.
Authors: Prof. dr. Ricardo Rüther (UFSC), Prof. Andrew Blakers /Anu
Andre.blakers@anu.edu.au
ruther@gmail.com
Isesthe International Solar Energy Society a non-accredited membership NGO was founded in 1954 working on a world with 100% renewable energy for everyone, used efficiently and wisely.
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