- In a hydroelectric pumping station, water is pumped from lower levels to an upper reservoir and stored. When the water then flows down a pipeline through a turbine, electricity is generated from the kinetic energy.
- The operational logic behind this type of plant is to use the electrical energy from the network at times of low cost to pump and store water in the upper reservoir. When energy prices increase, the generated electricity is reintroduced to the network.
- This technology allows storing energy in large quantities. When required, it enables variability compensation for renewable energies such as wind or photovoltaic.
Pump Storage
- The “Espejo de Tarapacá” project is a hydroelectric pumping station in Chile that will operate with seawater. Due to its favorable geographical characteristics and technology, this project would be built in the San Marcos cove, near Iquique.
- The stored seawater totals 52 million cubic meters and a hydraulic pumping station to generate 300 MW. The original project considers the power supply from a 600 MW photovoltaic plant.
- The GIZ is currently developing a study to determine the potential for hydraulic pumping in the country.
Animation Pump Storage
Video Pump Storage