Identification and application of indicators for the assessment of pumped hydro storage projects with renewable energy generation
N. Naval(1), M.P. Martínez(2) and J.M Yusta(1) 1. Department of Electrical Engineering EINA, Zaragoza University, Zaragoza (Spain) 2. Atalaya Generación Argualas, Zaragoza (Spain) 2026-01-20

Abstract

Pumped hydro storage is crucial in Europe's energystrategy to achieve a 100% renewable energy-based electricity system by 2050. As a consequence of the large number of factors involved and the variety of criteria included in a proper assessment of renewable generation projects with pumped hydro storage, this paper aims to identify and calculate technical, economic, environmental and social indicators in order to provide a tool to improve the decision-making process in this type of large-scale projects.

Key words: Pumped hydro energy storage, renewable generation, site selection, indicators selection, assessment.

References

[1] BOE, “Ley 7/2021, de 20 de mayo, de cambio climático y transición energética,” pp. 1–46, 2021.

[2] S. Rehman, L. M. Al-Hadhrami, and M. M. Alam, “Pumped hydro energy storage system: A technological review,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 44, pp. 586–598, 2015, doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.12.040.

[3] P. C. Nikolaos, F. Marios, and K. Dimitris, “A Review of Pumped Hydro Storage Systems,” Energies, vol. 16, no. 11, 2023, doi: 10.3390/en16114516.

[4] X. Yong, W. Chen, Y. Wu, Y. Tao, J. Zhou, and J. He, “A two-stage framework for site selection of underground pumped storage power stations using abandoned coal mines based on multi-criteria decision-making method: An empirical study in China,” Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 260, no. April, p. 115608, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115608.

[5] S. Kucukali, “Finding the most suitable existing hydropower reservoirs for the development of pumped-storage schemes: An integrated approach,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 37, pp. 502–508, 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.05.052.

[6] B. Lu, M. Stocks, A. Blakers, and K. Anderson, “Geographic information system algorithms to locate prospective sites for pumped hydro energy storage,” Applied Energy, vol. 222, no. January, pp. 300–312, 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.03.177.

[7] AEE, “Estudio macroeconómico del impacto del sector eólico en España,” pp. 1–132, 2021.

[8] IRENA, “Renewable energy and jobs: Annual review 2023,” 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.irena.org/Publications/2023/Sep/Renewable-energy-and-jobs-Annual-review-2023. [Accessed: 29-Jan-2024].

[9] “BOE.” [Online]. Available: https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2004-4214. [Accessed: 29-Jan-2024].

[10] “Estimaciones IBI y IAE.” [Online]. Available: https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/lo-ultimo/2018/08/27/lluvia-millones-medio-rural-aragones-46747701.html. [Accessed: 29-Jan-2024].

[11] “Precios alquiler suelo FV.” [Online]. Available: https://elpais.com/economia/2020-10-30/los-agricultores-se-frotan-las-manos-plantando-paneles-solares.html. [Accessed: 29-Jan-2024].

[12] “PRECIOS – OEGA.” [Online]. Available: https://observatorio.eolico.uvigo.es/observatorio-de-precios/?lang=es. [Accessed: 29-Jan-2024].

[13] “Red Natura 2000.” [Online]. Available: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/espacios-protegidos/red-natura-2000.html. [Accessed: 29-Jan-2024].

[14] “EMD International.” [Online]. Available: https://www.emd-international.com/energypro/. [Accessed: 19-Mar-2024].

[15] M. D. Reder, E. Gonzalez, and J. J. Melero, “Wind Turbine Failures - Tackling current Problems in Failure Data Analysis,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 753, no. 7, pp. 1–11, 2016, doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/753/7/072027.