The role of hydropower plants in the context of renewable energy transition - case study of pumped-storage hydropower plant Bistrica

Abstract

Several unfavourable processes are occurring in the energy sector. Significant capacities of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, which have variable and unpredictable availability, are being commissioned without detailed analyses of their impact on electric power systems. Meanwhile, large thermal and nuclear power plants, which have traditionally provided stability and reliability to the power system, are being decommissioned. These processes are significantly altering the role of hydropower plants. All types of hydropower plants are becoming increasingly important, particularly those with large water storage reservoirs and pumped-storage hydropower plants. In such cases, hydropower plants have the potential to balance a renewable energy system in the short term (seconds to minutes), while pumped-storage plants can provide medium to long-term balancing (months or even years). The article discusses the trend of an increasing quantity of volatile and intermittent energy sources (wind and solar) on one side, and stagnation of predictable hydropower sources. It presents the available hydropower potential in Serbia and the real possibilities for its utilization. Additionally, it describes one of the most promising hydropower facilities, the Pumped-storage Hydropower Plant Bistrica, (which is currently in the conceptual design phase) as part of the Lim-Uvac hydropower system.