A game-changer for renewable energy in Europe! Water Battery under the Alps!

Latest renewable energy!

Switzerland has unveiled the latest renewable energy innovation, a giant water battery. This operation began last month; the water battery called Nant de Drance pumped storage hydropower plant provides the same energy storage capacity as 400,000 electric car batteries.

Massive project!

The project took 14 years to complete. Subterranean tunnels of around 17 kilometers were excavated through the Alps, while the six turbines are stored 600 meters below ground in a giant cavern the length of two football fields.

Repurposed reservoirs!

Nant de Drance had two existing reservoirs raising the upper one by 21.5 meters to double the capacity, and more water holds than 6500 Olympic-sized swimming pots. The $2 billion project plays a vital role in stabilizing Europe's electricity grid as the continent transition to renewable energy.

Making a splash!

For over a century, pumped storage hydropower plants have been essential for renewable energy because wind and solar rely heavily on the weather and do not provide a consistent power supply. These pumped storage hydropower plants move water between lower and higher reservoirs to store and generate electricity.

The turbine help to stabilize the electricity grid so that you have to wait until the power plant runs at precisely the right speed to be synchronized to the grid. Variable speed turbines supply electricity to the grid, so there is less risk of blackouts.

Impact!

Open flow pumped storage hydropower stations are built on river systems and require dam constructions, disrupted wildlife, and damaged ecosystems. In 1890 the first pumped storage hydropower plant was built with half of the total river lengths that altered with very few Alpine rivers in their natural state.

Closed-loop systems!

Andrew Blakers, a professor of engineering at the Australian National University, says modern projects favor closed-loop systems like Nant de Drance, which don't impact the river system.

These closed-loop power plants take up a relatively small space, given their energy security. Around 80% of the electricity goes back to the grid in Nant de Drance, which stores about 20 hours of backup energy.

Transitioning renewable!

Europe had big ambitions for renewable energy in 2020; one-fifth of the continent's total energy came from renewable sources. The target for 2030 has increased the renewable target from 40% to 45%.

High storage capacity!

The European Association for Storage of Energy estimates that the continent will need 200 gigawatts of storage by 2030, which is four times its current storage capacity. Between 2010 and 2020, the storage was just 8 gigawatts.

Energy security!

When the climate crisis intensified, Europe had the potential for clean energy storage provided by pumped storage hydropower plants. Pumped storage hydropower could provide energy security outside of Europe.

Blakers and his team have identified around 600,000 potential sites for closed-loop systems. One of the stepping stones to the direction of clean power is Nant de France.