Post on 14-Jan-2016
description
Powered by Rock
Dr Liam Herringshawlgh865@hotmail.com
Earth's Energy Systems
Powered by Rock
Hydroelectric Power
Water
Hydroelectric Power
~90% energy:power conversion efficiency
Hydroelectric PowerThree types:1. Conventional storage– 1 Reservoir + Dam with turbine/s
2. Pumped storage– 2 reservoirs – water pumped back to
upper basin during low demand 3. Run-of-river– Use natural flow of river
UK Hydroelectric
~1.5% of UK electricity from hydroelectric power (2011)
Cruachan Dam, nr ObanCruachan Dam, nr Oban
1. The Hollow Mountain1. The Hollow Mountain
Scotland's World-First
World's first pumped storage schemeBegun in 1959, opened in 1965
Utilized 'spare' nuclear power90% pumped storage10% conventional hydro (rain)
440 MW capacity2014: could expand to ~1 GW
Dinorwig Hydroelectric Power Station, Snowdonia
2. Welsh Water2. Welsh Water
Europe's largest man-Europe's largest man-made cavern:made cavern:
The Electric Mountain
16km of tunnels16km of tunnels
Opened in 1984Opened in 1984
1m tonnes of concrete, 200k tonnes of 1m tonnes of concrete, 200k tonnes of cement, 4.5k tonnes of steelcement, 4.5k tonnes of steel
Rapid Response
1.8 GW Pumped Storage
Used for sudden power demand– 16-second
response time!
3. The Loch Ness Monster
Glendoe Dam
Glendoe geology
Caledonian Mountain beltDeformed sandstones and mudstones
600m head is UK's largest15km2 natural catchment
+ 60 km2 artificial (tunnel) catchment8km tunnel from turbine to Loch Ness
A Modern Marvel
900m dam
Your Thoughts...
Hydro Power:Pros & Cons
Limited expansion capacity
(especially outside Scotland!)
Raw materials
Vidal et al. - Nature Geoscience (2013)
Especially concrete!
Induced SeismicitySichuan earthquake 2008, M7.9:
~80,000 people killed
Zipingpu Dam, completed late 2006
Small-scale (<5 MW) hydro projects “take off in UK”
Mostly run-of-river
Could micro-hydro make it big?
Image from Strathclyde University
British Sea Power?"The UK is currently the undisputed
global leader in marine energy, with more wave and tidal stream devices installed than the rest of the world combined." (Renewable
UK)
Wave & Tidal PowerCurrently ~9 MW installed200 MW by 2020?Tidal potential = 25-30 GW (DECC)
12% of electricity demandWave + Tidal potential = 60 GW
Tidal PotentialPentland Firth:
• 4.2GW potential; 1.9GW feasible• (>40% of Scottish elec. demand)
Tides to the Power Severn?
2013: “Case unproven”
A watery future for the UK?
VOTE!
Next week: Wind & Sun
Truly renewable?