3 ms·

That wasn’t the comparison. The comparison was every form of pumped storage EXCEPT pumped hydro vs a megapack. I’m sure you’re correct about pumped hydro though

by alvah 3y ago

That wasn’t the comparison. The comparison was every form of pumped storage EXCEPT pumped hydro vs a megapack. I’m sure you’re correct about pumped hydro though, it does seem like something we should do more of.

s1artibartfast 3y ago
That was the comparison I felt compelled to make. I have been a big fan of pumped hydro for many years. Contrary to what skeptics say, there are countless locations all over. [2] There is a suitable location 3 times larger than the Chinese one I linked That could use California's sites reservoir [1] under construction as a lower basin. It would have a similar 400m head, and an upper reservoir with 3 times the capacity or 120 GWh. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sites_Reservoir https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sites_Reservoir https://re100.anu.edu.au/#share=g-e5955e35f1c7f3677ac265bcddb4c30b https://re100.anu.edu.au/#share=g-e5955e35f1c7f3677ac265bcdd... another: https://maps.nrel.gov/psh https://maps.nrel.gov/psh
- 8bitsrule 3y ago
  Here in the PNW, "The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon ... up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) deep [and which] stretches for over eighty miles (130 km) as the river winds westward [toward Portland]." - WPedia Hmmm. Now I'm wondering how many reservoirs already (or could) exist above and along 80 miles of river. (No need to dig tunnels to the generators.)
  - usrusr 3y ago
    Exactly one reservoir (or a number of tiny ones not worth mentioning), because even all the way from Richland to Portland there is hardly any elevation drop.
    - usrusr 3y ago
      PS: oh, you meant reservoirs in contributory valleys left and right of the main river. Sorry about the misread, "above and along" should have been clear enough.
      - s1artibartfast 3y ago
        this works for water storage, and some for hydro generation, but for hydro stroage, you really want two large basins with as big of a elevation change as possible. This is because dams are very expensive, have height limitations, and some inherent risk. Hover dam is only ~200 meters high. The big hydro storage projects have height changes ~400 meters.

by alvah 3y ago

s1artibartfast 3y ago

That was the comparison I felt compelled to make. I have been a big fan of pumped hydro for many years. Contrary to what skeptics say, there are countless locations all over. [2] There is a suitable location 3 times larger than the Chinese one I linked That could use California's sites reservoir [1] under construction as a lower basin. It would have a similar 400m head, and an upper reservoir with 3 times the capacity or 120 GWh. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sites_Reservoir https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sites_Reservoir https://re100.anu.edu.au/#share=g-e5955e35f1c7f3677ac265bcddb4c30b https://re100.anu.edu.au/#share=g-e5955e35f1c7f3677ac265bcdd... another: https://maps.nrel.gov/psh https://maps.nrel.gov/psh

8bitsrule 3y ago
Here in the PNW, "The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon ... up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) deep [and which] stretches for over eighty miles (130 km) as the river winds westward [toward Portland]." - WPedia Hmmm. Now I'm wondering how many reservoirs already (or could) exist above and along 80 miles of river. (No need to dig tunnels to the generators.)
- usrusr 3y ago
  Exactly one reservoir (or a number of tiny ones not worth mentioning), because even all the way from Richland to Portland there is hardly any elevation drop.
  - usrusr 3y ago
    PS: oh, you meant reservoirs in contributory valleys left and right of the main river. Sorry about the misread, "above and along" should have been clear enough.
    - s1artibartfast 3y ago
      this works for water storage, and some for hydro generation, but for hydro stroage, you really want two large basins with as big of a elevation change as possible. This is because dams are very expensive, have height limitations, and some inherent risk. Hover dam is only ~200 meters high. The big hydro storage projects have height changes ~400 meters.