Hydro power stations are renewable energy resources, that enable operators to plan their generating programs accurately ahead. If they have an upper storage reservoir available, they can be almost spot-on. If their generator is in a river though, weather forecasts can help them predict the power downstream. Solar and wind power lack this ability, opening the door to battery hydro hybrids.
Idaho National Laboratory Researches Battery Hydro Hybrids
A team of scientists attached to Idaho National Laboratory, published a report in Science Direct we link to below. This document suggests that battery hydro hybrids serving wind and solar, could compensate for pumped hydro’s limited capacity.
Yet strangely, as Water Power Magazine points out, this opportunity is seldom taken up. The depth of this oversight is significant, given that hydro power contributed 27% of U.S. renewable energy in 2023.
However, this contribution will stabilize, and perhaps even shrink going forward, on account of the time frame attached to new hydro projects. And moreover, there is growing local community push back against new storage dam projects.
It therefore becomes increasingly evident, that coupling hydro with wind and solar via batteries requires more urgent attention. Water is a scarce resource. We must use it wisely, consider battery hydro hybrids, and extract water’s full potential every time we use it.
A Tool to Help Hydro Operators Consider Their Hybrid Options
The scientists attached to Idaho National Laboratory, are concerned that hydro plant operators do not know where to start exploiting this opportunity. Therefore, they propose a tool to help them decide whether to hybridize their hydro stations or not.
We can think of no reason not to consider exploiting this opportunity. Battery hydro hybrids could be the perfect tool for closing complementary generating gaps. We owe it to our future to optimize our natural resources now.
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