The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released an open-source pumped storage hydropower cost model tool that estimates how much new PSH projects might cost based on specific site specifications like geography, terrain, construction materials, and more.
The tool integrates data from users -- including assumptions about PSH reservoir, dam, and conveyance characteristics -- along with other design decisions, like reservoir volume and assumptions about indirect costs.
Using these data points, along with physical relationships and component cost equations, the tool builds a cost estimate for individual PSH projects.
NREL notes that PSH plants can store large quantities of energy equivalent to 8 or more hours of power production.
“As the country transitions to a 100% clean energy power grid, these plants could play a key role in keeping the grid reliable and resilient. But without adequate data on PSH development costs or performance, it's difficult to compare PSH to other technologies to identify which could maximize grid performance and reliability,” NREL said.
The PSH cost model can calculate capital costs for a closed-loop PSH system that requires two new reservoirs.
But users can also remove or substitute cost categories to suit their needs or start with the tool's default data, which represents a typical PSH facility.
Users can select between large or small PSH systems; the cost model tool includes unique assumptions for each (25 megawatts is used as the threshold between large and small PSH).
The tool calculates the following:
- Performance specifications for PSH components, such as hydraulic head, power output, and discharge flow rates
- Component-level unit costs, total component costs, and total plant costs
- An estimated total direct and indirect construction cost of a PSH system.
The PSH cost model is available for download from the NREL website.
