Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Plants with Pressurized Reservoir Replacing the Upper Reservoir

Abstract

The growing share of intermittent sources, such as solar and wind power, in the electricity mix has heightened the need for storage systems capable of mitigating fluctuations in supply and ensuring energy security. Among the available technologies, pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) plants stand out; they store energy by pumping water to an elevated reservoir, allowing it to be used later for electricity generation. However, topographical and environmental constraints can limit their implementation. In this context, this study proposed an alternative storage system based on the principles of pumped-storage hydroelectric plants, in which the upper reservoir is replaced by a pressurized reservoir. In this configuration, energy is stored through the compression of the air confined within the reservoir. The study involved mathematical modeling of the pumping and turbine stages, followed by computational simulation using the Python programming language. The results made it possible to analyze the temporal evolution of operational variables and to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed system, showing that the system, in its current configuration, exhibited lower efficiency than conventional pumped-storage hydroelectric plants. Thus, this research presents the concept of the system and establishes a foundation for future studies.