Variations in Renewable Power Generation
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar depend heavily on weather conditions, which cause fluctuations in power generation.
Solar power generation drops significantly at night, while wind power varies with wind speeds, leading to inconsistent energy output.
Despite advanced forecasting techniques, predicting exact renewable output remains difficult due to weather unpredictability.
Decision-Making for Energy Sources
Power managers assess real-time data on renewable generation and demand to determine the most appropriate energy sources.
Pumped storage and other storage solutions are used to manage supply and demand imbalances from renewable sources.
Pumped Storage Project (PSP) is a type of hydroelectric power system that serves as a large-scale energy storage facility.
Hydro power plants can quickly adjust their output in response to fluctuations, while coal and nuclear plants need longer lead times for adjustments.
Managers aim to maintain grid stability by balancing renewable energy contributions with other sources.
Pumped Storage Projects in India
India currently has 3.3GW of pumped storage capacity.
Major pumped storage projects include Nagarjunasagar, Kadana, Kadamparai, Panchet, and Bhira.
To meet its renewable energy targets, India needs to significantly expand its pumped storage capacity.
Operation of Kadamparai Reservoirs
The Kadamparai plant, Tamil Nadu, features an upper reservoir at 380 meters elevation and a lower reservoir, facilitating energy storage through elevation differences.
During periods of surplus solar power, water is pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir.
During times of low solar generation, the stored water is released from the upper reservoir to generate electricity.
The plant requires about an hour and a half to switch from pumping to generating mode and around half an hour to start generating full power.
Kadamparai can produce 400MW for 3-4 hours during evening peak loads and may operate at reduced capacity late into the night.
The upper reservoir holds about 1 TMC feet of water, with minor leakages replenished by natural rainfall.
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