Submersible Screw pump as turbines: a low-cost fish friendly solution for micro hydropower pumped energy storage including sea-water (SubScrewHydro)

Project Description

SubScrewHydro addresses the challenge of low-cost solutions for micro-scale energy storage. Pumped hydropower Storage (PHS) at large scales provides energy storage and grid flexibility services. However, this technology can be prohibitively expensive and requires unique topography conditions. A greater number of opportunities exist for PHS at micro-scales which are widely distributed across the grid with lower environmental impacts. However, reducing hydropower turbines to micro-scales results in machine costs that are not economically viable. Low-cost technology specific to the micro-scale is required to enable distributed energy storage. This project will develop new knowledge required to convert submersible screw pumps to turbine mode. This will enable a ten-fold reduction in the cost of turbines, a 25% reduction in civil works costs required, enable sea-water PHS, and ensure fish friendliness. SubScrewHydro will impact on the ability of the grid to accept more intermittent renewable energies in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. It will be achieved through the development of machine learning based methodology for the prediction of the energy generation behaviour of submersible screw pumps operated in reverse as turbines. The project will include lab-based and field-scale turbine testing, development of a performance prediction methodology, and assessments of the impacts on fish.