2023-09-07 ニューサウスウェールズ大学(UNSW)
◆これにより、可変エネルギー源の増加に伴うエネルギーの貯蔵が実現し、地方コミュニティに信頼性の高い低炭素電力システムが普及する可能性があります。このシステムは、太陽光エネルギーの余剰を水力を用いて貯蔵し、必要な時に電力に変換するもので、既存の農場ダムを活用することでコストが低減し、環境にも優しい選択肢となります。
＜関連情報＞
- https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/farm-dams-can-be-converted-renewable-energy-storage-systems-study
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261923010796
農業用貯水池を利用したマイクロ揚水エネルギー貯蔵の大陸規模評価 Continental-scale assessment of micro-pumped hydro energy storage using agricultural reservoirs
Nicholas Gilmore, Thomas Britz, Erik Maartensson, Carlo Orbegoso-Jordan, Sebastian Schroder, Martino Malerba
Applied Energy Available online: 6 September 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121715
Highlights
•Agricultural reservoirs reduce micro-pumped hydro construction costs.
•Identified 30,295 promising sites in arid and temperate climate zones.
•Average system has 52 kWh capacity, reservoirs within 132 m and 32 m of head.
•Estimated cost of 0.2 USD/kWh is comparable to home batteries at higher loads.
•Micro-pumped hydro supports uptake of solar in agricultural regions.
Abstract
The transition to low-carbon power systems necessitates cost-effective energy storage solutions. This study provides the first continental-scale assessment of micro-pumped hydro energy storage and proposes using agricultural reservoirs (farm dams) to significantly reduce construction costs. The continent of Australia is used as a representative case study for other arid and temperate regions internationally. From a new survey of its 1.7 million farm dams, we identified 30,295 promising pumped hydro sites in dam-to-dam and dam-to-river reservoir configurations. The average site had nearby reservoirs (132 m) with a high head height (32 m) and substantial discharge capacity (52 kWh). We then benchmarked a representative micro-pumped hydro site to a commercially available lithium-ion battery for a solar-powered irrigation system. Despite a low discharge efficiency (68%), pumped hydro storage was 30% less expensive (0.215 USD/kWh) for larger single-cycle loads (∼41 kWh/day) due to its high storage capacity. By capitalising on existing farm dams, micro-pumped hydro energy storage may support the uptake of reliable, low-carbon power systems in agricultural communities.
