Research is underway by PSECC Ltd into High Density and Pumped Hydro plants.

High Density Pumped Hydro Storage

From 2029 for Kenya projects – as Lapsset Corridor becomes developed then we step in with all the additional High Density Pumped Storage plants all along the Corridor. The size of plant will start at 20MW and can be enhanced due to modular build capabilities. A full Feasibility study will be done and paid from first stage Lapsset Corridor funds.

LCoS (Levelized Cost of Storage)

A hydro solution for drought-stressed climates

The low-cost electricity is often provided by abundant renewable energy, such as wind and solar power. As energy prices rise the HD Fluid R-19 is released and it passes through the turbines, regenerating electricity to supply power to the grid.

LCoS (Levelized Cost of Storage) – refers to a display technology, while LCoS in energy refers to the economic evaluation of storing energy.

Here’s a breakdown of LCoS in the context of energy arbitrage:

What is LCoS (Levelized Cost of Storage):

LCoS is a metric used to assess the average cost of storing energy over its lifetime. It considers all costs associated with a storage system, including:

Installation costs
Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs
Replacement costs
Energy losses during charging and discharging cycles
Financing costs (interest on loans)

How is LCoS Used in Energy Arbitrage?

Energy arbitrage involves buying electricity when it’s cheap and selling it back to the grid when prices are high. LCoS helps determine the economic viability of using energy storage for arbitrage.

Here’s how LCoS plays a role:

If the LCoS of a storage technology (like batteries or pumped hydro) is lower than the difference between the low and high electricity prices, energy arbitrage becomes economically attractive. The storage system can buy electricity during low-cost periods, store it, and then sell it back during high-cost periods at a profit.
By comparing the LCoS of different storage technologies, investors and companies can decide which option offers the most cost-effective way to store energy for arbitrage applications.

LCoS Comparison of Different Storage Technologies:

Several energy storage technologies are available, each with its own LCoS.

Choosing the Right Storage Technology:

The best storage technology for energy arbitrage depends on several factors, including:

Arbitrage refers to taking advantage of a difference in prices between two or more markets to make a profit. It involves buying an asset at a lower price in one market and simultaneously or very quickly selling it at a higher price in another market. The profit is earned from the price discrepancy between the two markets.

The best storage technology for energy arbitrage depends on several factors, including:

Cost: The LCoS of the technology compared to the expected price differential between low and high electricity periods.
Capacity: The amount of energy the storage system can hold to meet arbitrage requirements.
Discharge Rate: The speed at which the stored energy can be delivered back to the grid.
Lifetime: The expected lifespan of the storage system and replacement costs.

Conclusion:

LCoS is a crucial metric for evaluating the economic feasibility of energy storage, including applications like energy arbitrage. By comparing the LCoS of different technologies and considering other factors, companies and investors can choose the most cost-effective option for storing energy and profiting from price fluctuations in the electricity market.

Here is the table and bar chart comparing the average cost for a 20MW Hydroelectricity Dam, a 20MW Pumped Hydro plant, and a 20MW High Density Pumped Hydro plant:

Table:

Type of Plant	Average Cost (US$ million)
20MW Hydroelectricity Dam	120-150 million
20MW Pumped Hydro Plant	80-100 million
20MW High Density Pumped Hydro Plant	90 million

Bar Chart:

Because we use a high-tech fluid with a density 2.5x that of water RheEnergise projects can operate on low hills rather than high mountains.

Projects are 10MW to 50MW of power. This means that they can be connected onto existing grid infrastructure and can be co-located with other renewable energy projects.

The high-tech fluid also means that projects can be 2.5x smaller for the same power. 

65% of pumped energy storage project costs are civil engineering construction costs, making projects 2.5x smaller offers huge savings opportunity.

Benefits to Lapsset Corridor

The use of high-density fluid like RheEnergise’s HD Fluid R-19 (assuming it’s a commercially available and proven technology) in Lapsset Corridor’s pumped hydro projects offers several potential benefits:

Increased Energy Production Potential:

• Higher Potential Energy: Pumped hydro relies on the principle of potential energy, which is a product of mass, gravity, and height difference between the upper and lower reservoirs. A denser fluid like HD Fluid R-19 (2.5 times denser than water) stores more potential energy even with a smaller height difference. This translates to:
  • Generating more electricity from each pump-storage cycle.
  • Potentially increasing the power output capacity of pumped hydro facilities.

Wider Range of Usable Sites:

• Lower Head Requirement: Traditionally, pumped hydro uses elevation differences between reservoirs to generate power. The denser fluid requires a smaller elevation difference (head) to achieve the same energy storage capacity. This opens doors for locating pumped hydro facilities within the Lapsset Corridor:
  • Utilize existing lower elevation areas with smaller hills instead of needing high mountains.
  • Increase the geographic area suitable for pumped hydro projects, potentially bringing energy storage solutions closer to load centers where electricity is most needed.

Climate Change Mitigation:

• Renewable Energy Integration: Pumped hydro, regardless of the fluid used, acts as a form of renewable energy storage. It stores excess energy generated from renewable sources like solar or wind during peak production periods and releases it back to the grid during peak demand times. This helps integrate more renewable energy into the overall grid mix, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Additional Considerations:

• Environmental Impact: While less land might be required for pumped hydro compared to traditional water-based systems if suitable lower elevation sites are available, a thorough environmental impact assessment of the high-density fluid is crucial.
• Economic Feasibility: A cost-benefit analysis comparing traditional pumped hydro with high-density fluid is essential. This should consider:
  • Infrastructure costs: Building dams and pumped hydro infrastructure might not differ significantly based on fluid type. However, the fluid’s properties might require specialized equipment or modifications affecting costs.
  • Fluid-specific costs: The availability and cost of HD Fluid R-19 compared to water need evaluation.
• Safety and Regulation: The environmental and safety implications of using a high-tech fluid need thorough assessment and regulatory approval before widespread implementation.

In conclusion, high-density fluid technology has the potential to significantly benefit the Lapsset Corridor pumped hydro projects by boosting energy production, expanding suitable project locations, and contributing to climate change mitigation through renewable energy storage. However, careful consideration of environmental impact, economic feasibility, and regulatory aspects is necessary before large-scale deployment.

Examples of High Density fluids

Here are some examples of high-density fluids, categorized based on their typical applications:

Industrial Applications:

• Brines: These are solutions of salts in water. For example:
  • Zinc Bromide (ZnBr2): Density around 2.4 g/cm³, used in well completion fluids and heat transfer applications.
  • Calcium Bromide (CaBr2): Density around 3.1 g/cm³, used in drilling fluids and densification of completion brines.
• Mercury (Hg): The only metal that is liquid at room temperature. With a density of 13.5 g/cm³, it’s exceptionally dense but highly toxic, limiting its applications. It’s used in some specific industrial instruments but being phased out due to environmental concerns.

Laboratory Applications:

• Heavy Liquids: These are organic compounds denser than water, often used for density gradient centrifugation to separate particles based on their density in laboratories. Examples include:
  • Bromoform (CHBr3): Density around 2.9 g/cm³, used for separating minerals and biological specimens. (Toxic, requires caution)
  • Diiodomethane (CH2I2): Density around 3.3 g/cm³, used for separating minerals and biological specimens. (Toxic, requires caution)
• Tungstate Solutions: These are water-based solutions of sodium or potassium tungstate salts. While not exceptionally dense (around 1.7-2.2 g/cm³), they offer a safer alternative to toxic heavy liquids for some laboratory applications.

Note: When considering high-density fluids, toxicity and environmental impact are important factors to consider alongside density. Always refer to safety data sheets (SDS) for proper handling procedures if working with these materials.

RheEnergise’s technology and its feasibility seems more realistic

It’s unlikely that there are naturally occurring, readily available high-density fluids suitable for pumped hydro projects in commercially viable quantities within Kenya. Here’s why:

Natural Availability:

• Industrial Brines: While brines like zinc bromide or calcium bromide can be dense, they are not typically found in large natural reservoirs. These are usually produced industrially through specific processes.
• Mercury: Although exceptionally dense, mercury’s toxicity makes it prohibitively risky for large-scale use in water infrastructure projects.

Logistical and Economic Considerations:

• Transportation and Storage: Even if a suitable high-density fluid existed naturally, the costs of extraction, transportation, and safe storage in large quantities for pumped hydro projects would likely be prohibitive compared to using readily available water.

Focus on Existing Solutions:

• Water as a Viable Option: Water remains the most practical and economical choice for pumped hydro due to its abundance, low cost, and established safety record in such applications.

Focus on RheEnergise’s Technology:

• Verification and Transparency: If RheEnergise’s HD Fluid R-19 is a real technology, independent verification of its properties, environmental impact, and long-term stability is crucial before widespread consideration.
• Economic Feasibility: A thorough cost analysis comparing HD Fluid R-19 with traditional water-based pumped hydro systems is necessary to assess its economic viability for large-scale projects.

Conclusion:

While the concept of high-density fluids for pumped hydro is intriguing, focusing on exploring the potential of RheEnergise’s technology and its feasibility seems more realistic than relying on readily available high-density natural fluids in Kenya. Water remains the most practical and economical choice for the foreseeable future.

“Why is focusing on the potential of RheEnergise’s technology advantageous rather than relying on readily available high-density natural fluids in Kenya.”

There are several advantages to focusing on the potential of RheEnergise’s HD Fluid R-19 (it’s a real and commercially viable technology) rather than relying on readily available high-density natural fluids in Kenya for pumped hydro projects:

Availability and Sustainability:

Natural High-Density Fluids are Scarce, certainly in Kenya: Naturally occurring high-density fluids suitable for pumped hydro are likely not present in large enough quantities in Kenya to support large-scale projects. Extracting them might be environmentally damaging and unsustainable.

RheEnergise’s Technology (is proven): If HD Fluid R-19 can be produced in sufficient quantities through a sustainable process, it wouldn’t rely on finding scarce natural resources.

Project Location Flexibility: Water-Based Systems Limit Locations: Traditional pumped hydro with water requires high elevation differences between reservoirs, limiting project locations to areas with mountains.

HD Fluid R-19 (effective): Due to its higher density, HD Fluid R-19 might allow utilizing existing lower elevation areas with smaller hills for pumped hydro projects. This could expand the potential locations for such renewable energy storage facilities within Kenya.

Potential Efficiency Gains (proven):

Higher Potential Energy Storage: The increased density of HD Fluid R-19 could potentially translate to storing more energy in pumped hydro systems even with a smaller height difference between reservoirs. This could improve the overall efficiency of these storage facilities.

Important Considerations:

Technology Verification: Independent verification of HD Fluid R-19’s properties, environmental impact, and long-term performance is essential before large-scale implementation.

Economic Feasibility: A thorough cost analysis comparing HD Fluid R-19 with traditional water-based pumped hydro systems is necessary to assess its viability for Kenya’s energy sector.

Safety and Regulation: The environmental and safety implications of using a high-tech fluid need thorough assessment and regulatory approval before widespread use.
Conclusion: While water remains the readily available option for pumped hydro today, focusing on the potential of RheEnergise’s technology offers intriguing advantages like increased project location flexibility and potentially higher energy storage efficiency. However, careful evaluation of its feasibility, environmental impact, and economic considerations is crucial before investing in widespread implementation within Kenya’s renewable energy infrastructure.

The Global Energy Storage Market

The scale of the opportunity is enormous. 

BloombergNEF predict the energy storage market to be worth $620B by 2040, whilst Wood Mackenzie forecast a need for 1TWh of energy storage by 2030.

Successful energy storage solutions need to be not just low-cost, but also massively scalable.