The Pumped Hydro Storage Plants and Their Civil Engineering Structures

Abstract

The great interest in hydropower pumped storage plants originated between 1960 and 1979 years the aim of traditional pumped hydro storage (PHS) plants was to integrate the production from thermal and nuclear power plants, which are able to guarantee high capacity with almost continuous operation, but not to cover peaks in energy demand. Initially the main task for a PHS plant was the conversion of less valuable energy generated in hours of low demand into more valuable energy for peak hours; but nowadays the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources has transformed the electric market and drives the transition from fossil and nuclear energy sources. Nevertheless, the renewable sources, particularly wind and solar, are affected by great uncertainty and intermittence: they are difficult to predict and generate instability in the power networks. PHS plants nowadays, in addition to their traditional tasks to cover peak demand, can play a decisive role to integrate renewable energy assuring the electric network stability. This article illustrates the technology and the operating principles of pumped hydroelectric storage plants and describes type and characteristics of their civil structures, presenting some significant examples s of traditional and modern projects.