Search

Hydroelectric power plants have been losing competitiveness to renewable resources in Brazil, specifically wind and solar power resources, given the current water crisis in the country, which has left main reservoirs in the Brazilian hydroelectric power system depleted. However, other renewable energy resources show disadvantages in terms of intermittence and energy storage. Pumped Hydropower Storage (PHS) can help mitigate this problem, supplying energy with fewer variations. This paper studied using PHS concepts together with solar and/or wind renewable resources to recover water levels at the Furnas reservoir in terms of energy and economic performance. The energy studies were developed by sizing the PHS and identifying solar and wind resource potential for supplying energy for pumps in the hydropower plant. The economic analyses considered three different scenarios (I; II and III), and used the NPV (Net Present Value), and LCOE (Levelized Cost of Electricity) methods for a period of 30 years. Energy calculations showed that 1692 MWh/day of energy could be generated using PHS. However, 2729 MWh/day of energy would be needed to store generated energy, and a 1037 MWh negative energy balance will be compensated for by using daily wind and/or solar photovoltaic power production. This would allow the Furnas reservoir to regain 0.45 m of its water level per year. The economic studies showed economic viability for PHS scenarios I and III, with estimated NPV at 151.5 million dollars, and 64.5 million dollars for the last year of the project, respectively. Scenario II was unviable, giving rise to several strong discussions on this application within Brazil. • Wind and solar sources were considered for the pump energy supply. • The proposed system can recover 0.45 m/year of the level in the Furnas reservoir. • The energy production of the reversible power plant was estimated as 1,692MWh/day. • Economic feasibility was evaluated in many scenarios using NPV and LCOEmethods. • Market regulation is required for the diffusion of this technology in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method to assess the financial attractiveness provided by adding a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in distributed photovoltaic (PV) generation on public buildings in Brazil. The method is applicable to prosumer units (PU) connected on the medium voltage grid operating under time-based electricity tariffs. The BESS primary objective was to achieve optimal reductions in electric energy expenses through effective energy arbitrage mechanisms. The procedural steps of the methodology begin with an analysis encompassing assessment of solar resource, PU consumption profile, and BESS sizing and operation. Subsequently, steps entail contracted power optimization, PU net-metering analysis, and evaluation of BESS impacts on electric energy expenses. Lastly, a regulatory and economic analysis is conducted incorporation considerations on BESS taxation, behind-the-meter regulations, and a sensitivity assessment extending to the 2030 outlook. By 2050, it is anticipated that PV generation will surpass hydropower, becoming the predominant component of Brazil's energy mix. This shift is expected to create an increased need for solutions, notably storage systems, capable of meeting flexibility requirements and maintaining grid resilience. The results suggest that the financial viability of incorporating BESS becomes favourable when the battery cost is below 365 $/kWh. In approximately 50% of the Brazilian territory, prevailing economic conditions support the adoption of BESS. Nationwide feasibility of integration is anticipated for the year 2027. It was observed that government policies to exempt BESS taxation, even if temporary, would be extremely interesting to promote the widespread adoption of this technology. The 2030 outlook of the transition to these benign renewable energy technologies is already in place, and will dominate the energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]