What is Pumped Storage Hydro Power (PSH)?

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About Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH):

PSH is a type of hydroelectric energy storage.
PSH is a fundamentally simple system that consists of two water reservoirsat different elevations.
Working:
- When there is excess electricity available, such as during off-peak hours or from renewable sources like solar and wind, it is used to pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir.
- When there is a demand for electricity, the water is released from the upper reservoir back down to the lower reservoir, passing through turbines that generate electricity.
- The system also requires power as it pumps water back into the upper reservoir (recharge).
PSH plants operate much like conventional hydropower plants, except PSH has the ability to use the same water over and over again.
The technology absorbs surplus energy at times of low demand and releases it when demand is high.
The energy storage capacity of a PSH depends on the size of its two reservoirs, while the amount of power generated is linked to the size of the turbine.
There are two main types of PSH:
- Open-loop: with either an upper or lower reservoir that is continuously connected to a naturally flowing water source such as a river.
- Closed-loop:an ‘off-river’ site that produces power from water pumped to an upper reservoir without a significant natural inflow.

Q1: What is a Turbine?

A turbine is a device that harnesses the kinetic energy of some fluid – such as water, steam, air, or combustion gases – and turns this into the rotational motion of the device itself. Turbines are generally used in electrical generation, engines, and propulsion systems.

Source: Here’s why Union Budget 2024 promised policy on pumped storage