Feasibility and case studies on converting small hydropower stations to pumped storage

Area of Science:

• Renewable Energy Engineering
• Power Systems Analysis
• Environmental Engineering

Background:

• Hydropower is vital for grid stability, providing peak shaving, frequency regulation, and load reserve.
• Conventional hydropower stations require modernization to meet evolving energy demands.
• Zhejiang Province is a key region for evaluating hydropower conversion strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of converting small hydropower stations into pumped storage hydropower stations.
• To propose an integrated renewable energy system combining hydropower, wind, and solar power.
• To develop a framework for medium-small scale pumped storage and distributed generation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from small hydropower stations and advanced software algorithms for feasibility evaluation.
• Conducted comprehensive analysis and field investigations to select a pilot site.
• Employed SolarGIS and Global Wind Atlas to assess solar and wind resources.

Main Results:

• Jiangshantou Hydropower Station selected as the pilot site for conversion.
• Predicted annual operating hours, power generation, and energy consumption for the converted station.
• Identified optimal locations for integrated photovoltaic and wind energy development.

Conclusions:

• The conversion of Jiangshantou Hydropower Station into a pumped storage facility is feasible and will enhance power regulation.
• An integrated hydropower-wind-solar system can ensure stable output and improve renewable energy utilization efficiency.
• Photovoltaic forecasting systems are recommended for precise control and enhanced responsiveness of the pumped storage station.