PES Seminar: Analysis and Design of a Pumped Storage Hydro System through Repurposing an Underground Mine

Dr. Robert Weissbach, a Full Professor of Engineering Technology from Purdue University Indianapolis and a past Chair of Department of Engineering Technology of IUPUI will give us a presentation related to renewable energy generation and storage. Free food and beverage will be provided to the in-person attendees, along with 1 PDH for those who needs continuing education hours.
Abstract: The increased use of intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy has increased the need for energy storage solutions to address instances of low generation of renewables. Long duration energy storage, defined as greater than 10 hours of storage, has been difficult to achieve with most storage technologies, including chemical batteries. Pumped storage hydro is one promising long duration energy storage technology. During early morning hours when the electrical load is reduced, water is pumped from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. During the day and early evening when the load peaks, water is allowed to flow through a turbine coupled to a generator to provide additional generation capacity before returning to the lower reservoir. Unfortunately, many of the geological sites that can support pumped storage hydro have already been developed in the United States. A potential novel option is to use a mine void as the lower reservoir with the upper reservoir at ground level. This presentation will look at the potential of pumped storage hydro in soon-to-be-abandoned mines.
Speaker(s): Rob
Agenda:
5:00 – 5:10 pm: Arrival & Refreshments
5:10 – 6:00 pm: Lecture
6:00 – 6:10 pm: Q&A
Room: Room ET 312, Bldg: Purdue University Indianapolis, 799 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202, Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/444374