Currently, energy storage is among the energy priorities of the European Commission. It is a key component to provide flexibility and support the integration of renewable energy into the power system. Thanks to this technology, it helps to balance centralized and distributed electricity generation, reduces losses in the network, and can even reduce extreme price fluctuations, while contributing to energy security.
What is actually a hydraulic battery?
This technology consists of storing energy in water. Two reservoirs or water tanks are built at different heights. During the day, normally with the surplus of solar energy, the water is pumped from the lower level tank to the upper level tank, in this way we would be charging our battery.
At night, or at times when the demand for energy is higher than the generation, we release that stored water from the upper tank to the lower tank by passing it through a hydraulic turbine.
Advantages of the hydraulic battery
- No water is consumed in the process
- It is fully scalable in terms of installed power
- Existing reservoirs or rafts can be used
- It is a valid system for systems isolated from the electrical network where an independent network could be created
- Use of renewable energy sources
- Energy security, reducing the risk of blackouts and compensating for the large differences between energy supply and demand
- Long service life
- Use of reliable technology since it has been used for more than 50 years (reversible plants)
- Low cost of operation and maintenance
Disadvantages of the hydraulic battery
- High installation cost
- In small powers, the returns on investment are higher
At Powerturbines, we are pioneers in the use of this technology and we are delighted to help you. To do this, please write us an email to the address info@powerturbines.eu and we will respond to you as soon as possible.