Nauru pumped hydroelectric power plant operation

What is a pumped storage hydropower plant?

Pumped Storage Hydropower Plants (PSHPs) are one of the most extended energy storage systems at worldwide level [6 ], with an installed power capacity of 153 GW [ 7 ]. The goal of this type of storage system is basically increasing the amount of energy in the form of water reserve [ 8].

Can hydropower plants be converted to pumped storage?

There are studies considering the conversion of run-off-river hydropower plants , water supply reservoirs , or conventional hydropower plants to pumped storage, most of which are small-scale and do not consider the joint operation of hydraulic turbines and pumping stations with wind and PV plants.

What is future energy pumped hydro?

Future energy pumped hydro provides storage for hours to weeks and is overwhelmingly dominant in terms of both existing storage power capacity and storage energy volume.

How does Nauru get its energy?

Nauru predominantly sources its energy through diesel power generators. About 5% of its current energy demand is sourced from renewable energy, of which all is from solar power photovoltaic (PV) installations. A 500-kW ground-mounted solar installation was commissioned in 2016, and a number of residences have rooftop solar PV installations.

Can a hydropower plant be retrofitted with a pumping system?

Existing conventional hydropower plants can be retrofitted with pumping systems to integrate PHS capabilities. Currently, PHS can be considered a very versatile energy storage solution owing to its functionality over a wide range of timescales.

What is pumped hydropower storage (PHS)?

Note: PHS = pumped hydropower storage. The transition to renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar, requires increased flexibility in power systems. Wind and solar generation are intermittent and have seasonal variations, resulting in increased need for storage to guarantee that the demand can be met at any time.