IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - September/October 2020 - 104

in my view (continued from p. 108)
resource that can act as a storage mechanism and provide energy on an on-call
basis. Hydropower generation currently
plays that role in several markets. The
need to integrate hydropower generation with variable resources is creating a
unique opportunity for innovative hydropower generation ideas.

Large-Scale Hydropower
Generation
Large-scale hydropower generation
projects (>1 GW) are becoming a bit
more challenging from a social-impact perspective in a number of regions around the globe. Several current projects under development are
under social and political pressure. In addition, the effects of the
most-recent global recession and the current
COVID-19 pandemic
are expected to hamper the implementation
of proposed projects
even more in the near
future. Although there
is long-term potential
for the further growth
of large-scale hydropower, the overall
picture is quite uncertain.
There have been significant efforts
aimed at improving the performance

of hydropower plants that have been
in operation for many years. The implementation of new technologies involving upgraded control systems, the
replacement of existing fixed-speed
turbines with variable-speed turbines,
and the relining of existing penstocks
to improve water flow is improving the
generation output of existing facilities.

Pumped Storage
Development
Pumped storage that can act as a largescale storage device for intermittent
resources is attracting interest globally.
There are current plans in place to reuse mines that have been exhausted.
Large-scale projects utilizing abandoned gold
and iron ore mines have
been proposed and are
envisioned to be closedloop projects. Closedloop projects a re favored by environmental
agencies because they
tend to eliminate negative impacts on river
wildlife, resulting in a
significantly reduced
ecological impact compared to that of
open-loop pumped storage facilities.
Utilizing existing sites that have already
had social and environmental impacts

Hydropower
generation
currently
plays that role
in several
markets.

appears to be a more acceptable solution by various stakeholders than siting
new locations for storage projects.
As for small-scale pumped storage, many technologies are currently
being tested in various places around
the world. One application utilizes
la rge st e el t a n k s w it h a n elevational difference to create the head
different ia l necessary to generate
electricity. Shell Energy is working
on a small-scale membrane design
for innovative reservoir technology
for closed-loop configuration in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Small-scale projects do suffer from
economic limitations; however, integrated storage solutions with renewable
energy sources tend to produce better
economic results. The implementation
of resilient microgrids powered by a
combination of a small-scale pumped
storage solution with a renewable resource like solar can improve life in
rural areas. For example, water can
be pumped to an elevated tank during the day utilizing solar energy and
then released in late evening and early
morning for irrigation with integrated
microturbines, which can generate
electricity to power a rural village.
This can eliminate the need for expensive bat ter ies a nd create a more

5,172

6,463

South America

East Asia
and Pacific

2,343
682

906

Europe

Africa

North and
Central America

South and
Central Asia

figure 2. The global hydropower generation added at the end of 2019. (Source: "2020 HydroPower Status Report," International Hydropower Association; used with permission)
104

ieee power & energy magazine

september/october 2020

IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - September/October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - September/October 2020