Pumped Storage is a Companion to Wind Energy

[Fledermaus]

Pumped Storage is a Companion to Wind Energy

Current public policy encourages the development of renewable energy resources, including
wind power. In California in 2003, wind energy produced enough electricity to power 530,000
homes, and this amount is increasing. Most of this power is generated in one of three geographic
areas - including the San Gorgonio Pass region, just west of the Eagle Mountain project area.

However, wind power is only generated when the wind is blowing, and that does not always
correspond to times of power demand. "Control power" is needed for times of
high wind when the electrical grid cannot absorb the excessive power, and energy should be
stored for times of insufficient wind.

Pumped hydropower stores energy by using surplus power for pumping water from a lower level
to a higher level. Thus, the Eagle Mountain Project can serve as a "battery" for
nearby wind farms, enhancing the efficiency of this renewable energy source. In addition, energy
generation from pumped storage can be rapidly adjusted to match demand, enhancing the overall
reliability of the transmission system.

Eagle Mountain Pumped Storage Project

The Eagle Mountain Pumped Storage Project is a proposed 1,300 MW hydroelectric project
located in Riverside County, California. The project will be located at the site of the inactive
Eagle Mountain Mine.

The project will operate by converting the existing Central and East Pits of the Eagle Mountain
Mine into water storage reservoirs. Water stored in the Central Pit is approximately 1,000 feet
in elevation above the East Pit. During time periods when electricity demand is at its peak, water
will be transferred from the Central Pit to the East Pit via tunnels which lead to a powerhouse where
electricity is generated. The water will then be stored in the East Pit until electricity demand is at a
minimum, when the water will be pumped back uphill to the Central Pit, and the cycle repeats.

Water requirements will be most significant for the initial fill. During operation, the project will
need small amounts of water each year to replace the water lost to evaporation and leakage.

http://www.eaglemountainenergy.us/about.html

[izquierdista]

1. "Small amounts"

Tell me about those "small amounts". Solar evaporation easily runs 80-100 inches per year in that area, with about 3 inches of precipitation.

[kristopher]

2. Isn't this 'in' a shut down iron mine?

That should severely curtail evaporative losses, no?

[Fledermaus]

3. Good question, there are several design variables used to reduce and offset evaporation.

In arid climates with a lack of water, head is the most important factor. Head is the difference in height of the upper and lower reservoirs. The greater the height the more potential energy the water will have when pumped to the upper reservoir. The greater the head the less amount of water is needed to produce a given amount of watt hours. For example a head of 1000 feet will require 1/4 the amount of water than a head of 250 feet.

The amount of evaporation is directly proportional to the surface area of a lake. Therefore, small deep lakes are better than wide shallow lakes.

Having a source of make up water is important. By reducing evaporation to a minimum, a small community can provide make up water from its sewage treatment plant.

[izquierdista]

4. There is no make up water

This is further out in the desert than Wonder Valley, where people routinely get water by truck in 10,000 gallon shipments. Unless they are planning on tapping into the Colorado River Aquaduct (which is another story in itself), there is no ground water, and no rain. I suppose they could plan on a massive catchment for the one day a year that it does rain 2", but.....

[Fledermaus]

5. Theres a small community/prison right next to it.

Or maybe its a ghost town with a grade school thats still used and a sewage treatment plant.