Modeling and Analysis of Value of Advanced Pumped Storage Hydropower in the U.S.

In April 2012 a project team led by Argonne National Laboratory began a collaborative research project on improving the high-resolution computer modeling and simulation of advanced pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) facilities, providing a comprehensive study of the technical and market operations, economics, and value of conventional hydro (CH) and PSH plants for power system operation, including their role in accommodating larger share of variable renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar. Besides Argonne, the project team includes Energy Exemplar, MWH Americas, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and Siemens PTI. The goal of the project is to support the Department of Energy Water Power Program's mission of utilizing advanced pumped storage hydropower technologies as variable renewable integrator and enabler.

Over the next eighteen months, the project team will develop detailed models of advanced PSH technologies, including adjustable speed PSH plants; analyze their technical capabilities to provide various grid services and to assess the value of these services under different market structures and different levels of renewable energy generation. The simulations will also take into account co-optimization of energy and ancillary services.

The project team will develop generic (vendor-neutral) models of advanced PSH technologies, such as adjustable speed PSH, and make those models (i.e., block diagrams and transfer functions) publicly available. In addition, the results of modeling studies and analyses performed during the project will be summarized and made publicly available in the final project report.

For more information, contact:
Vladimir Koritarov, Principal Investigator
Modeling and Analysis of Value of Advanced Pumped Storage Hydropower in the U.S.
Energy Systems Division
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 South Cass Ave., Bldg. 202
Argonne, IL 60439
Phone: 630-252-6711
Fax: 630-252-9868