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It seems like using hydro as a demand-smoother changes the aspect of how much damming you need to do. Instead of having to construct a massive reservoir to pro
by VectorLock 6y ago
It seems like using hydro as a demand-smoother changes the aspect of how much damming you need to do. Instead of having to construct a massive reservoir to provide constant power if the hydro is only intended to provide peaking or off-demand power then it seems like the reservoir could be much smaller - and conversely less environmentally impactful.
- Baeocystin 6y agoOnce you've committed to a dam, much of the environmental damage is baked in, whether small or large. And dams have huge environmental impacts across the entire river system. They still have their place. There is a pumped hydro system here in the Bay Area (San Luis Reservoir) that is coupled to a hydro station, and produces power when it drains back in to the aqueducts. It's primary purpose is water capture and distribution, not power storage, but it does both.