While the whole world focuses on obtaining energy from renewable sources, the storage of this energy, which is produced depending on weather conditions and time of day, is another problem. While large battery packs offer a temporary solution to this problem, they are sometimes not sufficient for larger storages.
Efficiency will be increased with the water battery installed in Switzerland
Experts continue to carry out various studies on energy storage. The system, which we can call the water battery, is also one of these storage methods. Basically a type of hydroelectric power plant, this water battery consists of two large pools at different heights.
This system can store excess electricity by pumping water from the lower pool to the upper pool. In this way, the battery is recharged in a sense. When electricity is needed, the water is transferred back to the pool below, enabling the turbines that generate electricity to be rotated.
Water batteries are especially useful for storing excess energy produced by intermittent power sources such as wind, solar and nuclear. Energy will be pumped into the upper pool during times of overproduction and can then be re-released to generate energy during periods of high demand.
The Swiss power plant, built by the Nant de Drance company, came into operation on 1 July. The facility has six pump turbines and a total power output of 900 MW. It is stated that this figure will be enough to power 900 thousand houses.
With an electricity storage capacity of 20 million kWh, the water battery is expected to play an important role in balancing the energy grids of Switzerland and Europe. During periods of high demand, especially on extremely hot days, the battery can reduce the load on the electricity grid.
Due to significant logistical and engineering challenges, the facility took 14 years to complete. To create the facility, 18 kilometers of tunnels were dug in the Alps. These tunnels allowed building materials and prefabricated buildings to be transported to the mountain.
At the heart of the facility is the huge engine room, which is approximately 200 meters long and 32 meters wide. Between 2012 and 2016, the height of the Vieux Emosson dam was also increased by 20 meters to allow the reservoirs to store more water and produce more energy.
While new ones are being added to the renewable energy sources every day, this hydroelectric power plant-based structure is also promising. So what do you think about hydroelectric power plant based water batteries? You can share your views with us in the comments section.
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