Nepal Himalaya offers considerable potential for pumped storage hydropower
Article
Baniya, Rupesh, Talchabhadel, Rocky, Panthi, Jeeban, Ghimire, Ganesh R, Sharma, Sanjib, Khadka, Prithvi Dhwoj, Shin, Sanghoon, Pokhrel, Yadu, Bhattarai, Utsav, Prajapati, Rajaram, Thapa, Bhesh Raj and Maskey, Ramesh Kumar. 2023. "Nepal Himalaya offers considerable potential for pumped storage hydropower." Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments. 60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2023.103423
Article Title | Nepal Himalaya offers considerable potential for pumped storage hydropower |
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ERA Journal ID | 211399 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Baniya, Rupesh, Talchabhadel, Rocky, Panthi, Jeeban, Ghimire, Ganesh R, Sharma, Sanjib, Khadka, Prithvi Dhwoj, Shin, Sanghoon, Pokhrel, Yadu, Bhattarai, Utsav, Prajapati, Rajaram, Thapa, Bhesh Raj and Maskey, Ramesh Kumar |
Journal Title | Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments |
Journal Citation | 60 |
Article Number | 103423 |
Number of Pages | 10 |
Year | 2023 |
ISSN | 2213-1388 |
2213-1396 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2023.103423 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213138823004162 |
Abstract | There is a pressing need for a transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy to meet the increasing energy demands and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Himalayan region, with its unique topography and abundant water resources, offers substantial renewable energy potential, particularly through hydropower generation. However, the current exploitation rate is low owing to the predominance of run-of-river hydropower systems to support the power system. The utility-scale storage facility is crucial in the load scenario of an integrated power system to manage diurnal variation, peak demand, and penetration of intermittent energy sources. In this study, we assess the potential of pumped storage hydropower across Nepal, a central Himalayan country, under multiple configurations by pairing lakes, rivers, and available flat terrains. We then identify technically feasible pairs from those of potential locations. Infrastructural, environmental, operational, and other technical constraints govern the choice of feasible locations. We show that 42% of the theoretical potential of 3000 GWh is technically feasible. We find the flat land-to-river configuration more promising than other configurations. Our findings provide insight into the potential of pumped storage hydropower and are of practical importance in planning sustainable power systems in the Himalayas and beyond. |
Keywords | Electricity; Hydropower; Renewable energy ; Integrated power system ; Pumped storage hydropower |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 3707. Hydrology |
Public Notes | The accessible file is the accepted version of the paper. Please refer to the URL for the published version. |
Byline Affiliations | Tribhuvan University, Nepal |
Jackson State University, United States | |
Kansas State University, United States | |
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, United States | |
Howard University, United States | |
Dresden University of Technology, Germany | |
University of Maryland, United States | |
Michigan State University, United States | |
Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment | |
University of Pittsburgh, United States | |
Pokhara University, Nepal | |
Kathmandu University, Nepal |
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