THE EDIT
Issue #13, Water, May 2024
Vattenfall’s hydro power station Wendefurth in Germany. Photo: Vattenfall
“The Swiss Army knife of the energy sector.” Why pumped hydro power is making a comeback
What to know: Pumped hydro power plants function as giant batteries. By storing large amounts of water and then releasing it to generate energy, they have become one of Germany's most important energy sources.
Why it matters: While other fossil-free energy sources, like wind and solar power, are weather dependent, pumped hydro power is predictable. The ability of pumped hydroelectric power stations to store energy in the form of water essentially turns them into a kind of battery that can be used when needed. “I usually describe pumped hydroelectric power stations as The Swiss Army knives of the energy industry”, says Peter Apel, Vice President of Vattenfall’s hydro power plants in Germany, in an interview with THE EDIT.
Has the time come to tame the tide?
In the UK, the need for predictable, fossil-free and preferably indigenous energy has revived an old dream: to harness the tide of the Bristol Channel. The extreme tidal range in the channel could be used to generate electricity covering seven per cent of the country's needs. A newly formed commission has been tasked with finding an acceptable solution for the environmental, technical and economic challenges.
Lillgrund wind farm, above and below the surface. Photo: Vattenfall and SCSC - Swedish Coast and Sea Center.
Untapped potential
Only 20 per cent of the world's approximately 9,700 dams and embankments are used to generate hydro power. This means that there are significant opportunities to expand hydro power without building new dams. According to the US Department of Energy, developing the 100 largest non-powered dams in the US could add 8 GW of hydro power capacity. Several reports suggest that similar potential exists in other parts of the world. (hydropower.org)
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Swedish eels hitch a lift to the Sargasso sea
Every year, Vattenfall assists in the migration of thousands of endangered eels from Sweden's Lake Vänern, escorting them past hydro power stations on their way to the spawning grounds in the Atlantic Ocean. Our slithery friends are also being monitored by satellite.
News flash
3 x quick updates from the energy world
Keep on EV-trucking
2023 was a standout year for electric vehicle sales in private and commercial segments. A significant factor behind the commercial surge was in China, where electric truck sales hit 330,000 units. (about.bnef.com)
Solar Power: A space odyssey
UK-based Space Solar has built the first prototype of a space solar farm that could potentially be constructed in zero gravity. The panels could capture 13 times more energy than a solar farm on Earth. (news.sky.com)
The future of French fusion
In southern France, scientists and engineers from over 30 countries are collaborating to construct the world's largest nuclear fusion facility to date, with an 800 cubic metre chamber. (euronews.com)
And finally …
Why we’re still in the Steam Age
You might think that the age of steam is a thing of the past. You’d be wrong! While steam locomotives and steam engines in the mechanical industry are generally outdated, nuclear and other thermal plants still rely on steam to function. In fact, most of the world’s electricity today is produced using steam turbines. Associate Professor Andreas Helwig writes in The Conversation about the unbeatable advantages of heating water to generate electricity.