Energy storage plays a key role in providing more flexibility and balancing to the electric grid. With the increasing penetration of renewable energy technologies, there is a need to instantaneously match demand with supply. Energy storage has the potential to provide a back-up to intermittent renewable energy by storing electricity for use during more valuable periods. At this time, there are limited storage options, because several technologies are at very early stage of development. Pumped hydro energy storage is currently the most widely installed technology. This form of storage has some drawbacks which include the technology siting, as it cannot be implemented everywhere. This paper presents a concept that is similar to the existing pumped hydro storage technology. This concept is known as gravity storage, as it stores electricity in the form of gravitational potential energy. This storage option provides better operating characteristics and economically sounds solution over conventional pumped hydro storage, and can be placed almost anywhere electricity storage is needed. This paper proposes a methodology to optimally size the gravity storage technology and avoid system design failure. It also presents an economic analysis to investigate the value of this storage option. This work identifies the leveled cost of gravity storage and compares it to similar storage options.
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March 2016
Research Article|
March 02 2016
Sizing and economic analysis of gravity storage
A. Berrada;
A. Berrada
1School of Science and Engineering,
Al Akhawayn University
, Ifrane 53000, Morocco
2Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mehraz,
Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University
, Fez 35000, Morocco
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K. Loudiyi;
K. Loudiyi
1School of Science and Engineering,
Al Akhawayn University
, Ifrane 53000, Morocco
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I. Zorkani
I. Zorkani
2Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mehraz,
Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University
, Fez 35000, Morocco
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J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 8, 024101 (2016)
Article history
Received:
November 27 2015
Accepted:
February 19 2016
Citation
A. Berrada, K. Loudiyi, I. Zorkani; Sizing and economic analysis of gravity storage. J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 1 March 2016; 8 (2): 024101. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4943119
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