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Tens of thousands of small-scale hydroenergy storage sites were found to have the potential for development in Australia’s farm dams, according to research led by UNSW-Sydney. The renewable energy storage solution involved connecting agricultural reservoirs, typically used for solar-power irrigation, to create micro-pumped hydroenergy storage systems, akin to household-sized versions of the Snowy Hydro hydroelectric dam project. These systems were examined to support reliable and low-carbon power systems in rural communities.
With the growing reliance on variable energy sources such as wind and solar photovoltaics, the storage of surplus energy became crucial for ensuring a stable and dependable power supply. In a micro-pumped hydroenergy storage system, excess solar energy from high-production periods was stored by pumping water to a high-lying reservoir.
When more power was needed, the stored energy was released back to a low-lying reservoir, passing through a turbine-connected generator to generate electricity. However, the construction of new water reservoirs for micro-pumped hydroenergy storage was known to be expensive.
Dr Nicholas Gilmore, the lead author of the study and a lecturer at the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW Engineering, stressed the need for cost-effective energy storage solutions at all scales in the transition to low-carbon power systems.
For the study, the research team utilised satellite imagery to identify suitable agricultural reservoir pairings across Australia. Graph theory algorithms were then employed to filter promising sites based on factors such as minimum capacity and slope.
From the extensive dataset of nearly 1.7 million farm dams, the researchers identified over 30,000 potential sites in Australia suitable for micro-pumped hydroenergy storage. On average, each site had the capacity to provide up to 2 kW of power and 30 kWh of usable energy, sufficient to support a South Australian home for 40 hours.
The research team also compared a micro-pumped hydro site to a commercially available lithium-ion battery in solar-powered irrigation systems. Despite a lower discharge efficiency, the pumped hydro storage system was found to be 30% cheaper for a large single-cycle load due to its high storage capacity.
The study suggested that building micro-pumped hydroenergy power systems using existing farm dams could benefit rural areas vulnerable to power outages, offering a secure and reliable backup power source. Unlike battery backup power, which typically lasts less than half a day, a pumped hydro system could provide energy for up to a day, making it particularly valuable during emergencies like bushfires.
While the findings were encouraging, the researchers acknowledged the need for further analysis, including studying fluctuations in water availability, optimising pump scheduling, and improving discharge efficiency. They also highlighted the potential for future technological advancements to make these systems even more cost-effective over time.
Dr Gilmore proposed the next steps as setting up a pilot site to test system performance in action and conducting detailed modelling for real-world validation, considering the vast number of potential candidate sites identified in their research.
The research led by UNSW-Sydney has illuminated the potential of leveraging technology in the form of micro-pumped hydroenergy storage systems, ingeniously built within existing farm dams, to fortify rural communities’ transition towards reliable, low-carbon power systems.
This application of tech not only addresses the pressing need for cost-effective energy storage solutions in an era of increasing reliance on variable energy sources but also opens doors to thousands of households maximising their solar energy utilisation, ultimately reducing carbon footprints and energy bills.
Moreover, these micro-pumped hydro systems prove their mettle in outshining traditional battery solutions, offering a higher storage capacity and potentially enduring for decades. The added environmental benefit of repurposing existing reservoirs aligns with sustainable practices.
By providing secure and long-lasting backup power sources for remote regions prone to outages, especially during critical times like bushfires, this technology also epitomises the profound impact that well-designed, tech-driven solutions can have on enhancing the resilience and sustainability of our energy infrastructure. As the journey continues towards a cleaner energy future, the prospects of micro-pumped hydroenergy storage systems offer a shining beacon of technological ingenuity and environmental stewardship.
