Local new energy dam can store energy

Could a Hoover Dam energy storage plant be a key to Los Angeles?

LADWP is looking at building an even larger plant at Hoover Dam, so this form of energy storage, if replicated, could be a key to L.A. weaning itself off of fossil fuels. It's hidden away -- kind of like a superhero's secret lair -- behind locked gates at the end of a winding mountain ridge road off I-5.

Why do we need a complimentary energy storage service?

It also plays an important role in bringing more renewable resources onto the grid. Unprecedented rates of variable renewable technologies like wind and solar energy are currently being deployed throughout the U.S. electric system, underscoring the need for innovations in complimentary energy storage services for the grid.

Is pumped-storage hydropower a viable alternative to conventional hydropower development?

While pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) provides 95% of utility-scale energy storage in the United States, long lead times, high capital costs, and site selection difficulties have hampered new project deployments. However, Houston-based Quidnet Energy is taking an alternative approach to conventional PSH development.

Are run-of-River dams bad for the environment?

Hundreds of run-of-river facilities have been built or are in the pipeline across the world, though they tend to produce smaller amounts of power. Environmental disruption isn’t the only reason conventional dams are becoming less prevalent. They are also bad at saving water because their reservoirs provide large surface areas for evaporation.

Where does China still build dams?

China continues to build, mostly in the mountains of Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces. And conventional dams are still widely planned in developing countries as an affordable way to produce lots of electricity. Source: Global Energy Monitor Note: Planned projects include those that are announced, in pre-construction or in construction phases.