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Pumped hydro has the problem of "we pretty much can't build more". As for curtailment-reducing tricks, that's a good argument but IMO not changing the base cal
by p_l 5y ago
Pumped hydro has the problem of "we pretty much can't build more".
As for curtailment-reducing tricks, that's a good argument but IMO not changing the base calculus much - the model is about replacing the base demand power sources, so that we can push the extra into peak. Bigger problem is that scaling down demand is problematic for dealing with underproduction, and also simply missing on power (Thus my preference for billing for dispatchable power generation, then extra peak could be funneled easier into bonus things like green hydrogen for non-storage etc.)
- pfdietz 5y ago> Pumped hydro has the problem of "we pretty much can't build more". On-river pumped hydro is not easily expanded. But there is enormous potential for off-river pumped hydro. http://re100.eng.anu.edu.au/global/ http://re100.eng.anu.edu.au/global/
- p_l 5y agoConsider the large missing areas on the map. For example, Poland and Germany has 0 sites (Poland pretty much built all hydro it could without causing more environment damage)
- pfdietz 5y agoThat's certainly true, but it's also certainly true that "we can't build anymore" is by no means universally true. Great swathes of the world have far more PHES potential than they need.