Underground pumped storage hydropower plants using open pit mines: How do groundwater exchanges influence the efficiency?

Hydrochemical changes induced by underground pumped storage hydropower: influence of aquifer parameters in coal mine environments

“…The underground reservoir is modelled by implementing a high value of K (10 6 m d −1 ), S of 1, and a dispersivity of 10 4 m in the three directions. The validity of the assumptions adopted for modelling the underground reservoir has been evaluated by Pujades et al (2017b). Three different scenarios (Sce1, Sce2 and Sce3) are simulated and compared to ascertain the influence of the hydraulic conductivity (K) and porosity ( ) values in the surrounding porous medium on the system behaviour.…”

“…The main concern of UPSH using abandoned mines is the water exchanges between the underground reservoir and the surrounding porous medium because they can affect the environment and the efficiency of the UPSH plant. Most studies focused on water exchanges consider flow related issues (Bodeux et al, 2017;Pujades et al, 2017a). However, recently, Pujades et al (2017b) have suggested the importance of considering hydrochemical changes induced by UPSH plants.…”

“…Most studies focused on water exchanges consider flow related issues (Bodeux et al, 2017;Pujades et al, 2017a). However, recently, Pujades et al (2017b) have suggested the importance of considering hydrochemical changes induced by UPSH plants. These changes may impact on the environment and affect the efficiency of the plant.…”

Numerical study of the Martelange mine to be used as underground reservoir for constructing an Underground Pumped Storage Hydropower plant

“…For example, hydrochemical changes may influence the efficiency of UPSH plants as well as the impact on the environment when sulphide minerals (pH decrease and corrosion) or carbonate minerals (pH increase and incrustations) are present in the surrounding medium (Winde and Stoch, 2010a, b;Pujades et al, 2017Pujades et al, , 2018. Although hydrochemical aspects are important, this manuscript is only focused on flow-related issues that may modify the natural groundwater flow and affect the efficiency of the plant.…”

“…In this context, underground pumped storage hydropower (UPSH) using abandoned mines is a potential alternative (Martin and Barnes, 2007;Pickard, 2012;Pummer and Schüttrumpf, 2018), especially in flat regions where conventional pumped storage hydropower plants cannot be constructed because they require steep topography. UPSH plants consist of two reservoirs, one is underground while the other is located at the surface (Barnes and Levine, 2011).…”