Meet Solar Hydro Energy Storage

What is happening? Australia will be home to 50MW facility hydro solar facility with storage.

Why is this important? the way it works is novel…. “‘solar hydro’ power plant features concentrated PV technology that generates heat as a by-product, which is captured and used for thermal storage. The electro-thermal storage system consists of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbine, industrial chillers, and two insulated water-based thermal storage pits or reservoirs, each roughly the size of four Olympic size swimming pools. One of the reservoirs is kept at a temperature of 90 C and the other at close to 0 C, and the temperature difference is used to generate dispatchable electricity using ORC turbines.”

How will this be important? Provides longer duration firming for renewable energy generation at a lower cost.

PV Magazine | Australia to host 50 MWh ‘solar hydro’ plant with storage