Use of pumped hydro energy storage to complement wind energy: A case study

Abstract

The dependency of RES on the weather and climate increased the interest on bulk energy storage methods to supply firm power. Pumped-hydro energy storage systems are a step ahead among other bulk energy storage methods because these are more efficient and they have higher storage capacities. The present study focuses on the use of grid connected wind-pumped hydro power station supply energy. A hybrid wind-pumped hydro storage system was designed and simulated using real data, and economic analysis was performed by calculating the basic pay-back period, the net present value and the internal rate of return. According to the results, it is found that the hybrid system is actively used and a part of the electricity is supplied from the wind-pumped hydro system. In addition, it was obtained that the pumped hydro storage systems are very suitable to be used together with wind power plants.