Chapter 8 - Pumped hydro storage for microgrid applications

Abstract

Energy storage has a significant role in establishing isolated microgrids (MGs) that contain intermittent renewable energy sources. Energy storages based on their technologies can ensure stable and reliable operation of the MGs. Therefore it is indispensable to study MGs operation using appropriate, cost-effective, and sustainable energy storages with necessary control. This chapter elaborates on the necessity of energy storage application in general and more specific to the power system application. The significant role of energy storage has been found for peak shaving, reliable and quality power delivery, spinning reserve support, black start support, deferring of assets upgradation for the power network, load following, and uninterrupted power supply. The energy storage has good potential in resolving the recent issues, such as energy spillage and intermittency effect of renewable energy sources, control and operation, reliability, power quality, and resiliency of MGs. It also describes different energy storage technologies including, their subclassification, application areas, advantage, and disadvantages. Pumped hydro storage (PHS) is a matured and cost-effective large-scale energy storage technology that is deployed worldwide. Battery storage technology has been found with a broad classification, and its application is steadily growing. Hybrid energy storage has been found to be a promising solution to achieve multiobjective functions for MGs. Background of the PHS system, example installations of PHS and their capacities, principal components, and basic operation are illustrated in this chapter. The evolution of the PHS power house settings and their operation are also described.