Launch of the STOR-HY project, which aims to reduce the capital and operating costs of innovative pumped storage projects

STOR-HY will improve the lifetime and recyclability of components and develop operational strategies for unconventional schemes.

Funded by the HORIZON programme under Grant Agreement No. 101172905, STOR-HY will run for 48 months from 1 October 2024. The project has received 7.9M€ in funding and involves 18 partners from 8 countries, coordinated by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC).

Brussels, December 2024 - On the 15-16 of October 2024, STOR-HY was officially launched in Brussels, Belgium, to reduce the capital and operating expenditures of innovative pumped storage projects by increasing the lifetime and recyclability of pumped storage plant (PSP) components. It also aims to increase the operational capacity of PSPs by adapting them to unconventional storage schemes and harsh fluids in order to increase their geographical availability.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is one of the most efficient and flexible large-scale energy storage options available today, with up to 80% full-cycle energy recovery and the ability to balance the grid and expand utilities' renewable energy portfolios. PSH accounts for around 96% of global utility-scale energy storage. The storage capacity of European hydropower reservoirs exceeds 185 TWh, making them the largest "batteries" available to store energy from other renewables. Europe's PSH represents 20% of the world's hydropower capacity.

As a source of bulk power positions, hydropower is a key contributor to grid stability. However, the surge in unpredictable renewable energy sources requires increased regulation to balance intermittent generation, including energy shifting through storage. This intensified demand places a strain on the mechanical components used to regulate power, as they must withstand an increased number of start-stop cycles, ramping duties, and rapid transitions from energy generation to storage.

This can result in increased operating costs, accelerated deterioration, and unexpected damage to critical PSP equipment. To mitigate these issues, there is a crucial need for accurate degradation models and advanced control methods that not only maintain the mechanical integrity of aging hydropower infrastructure, but also actively reduce wear and tear on sensitive components.

STOR-HY seeks to address these challenges by improving the lifetime and recyclability of components and equipment and by defining operating strategies for unconventional schemes through sensor-based, wear and tear monitoring systems to detect early failure mechanisms, postpone unnecessary maintenance actions, avoid unplanned outages, and limit planned outages. Using digital tools for strategic and operational management, it intends to improve the efficiency, reliability, and availability of PSPs, taking into account energy and market demand and dynamics, variable renewable generation, and integration, while mitigating the effects of climate change and improving the flexibility and resilience of the EU energy grid.

STOR-HY also focuses on building regional links with local stakeholders, industry, academia, and policy institutions. Sustainability considerations include economic, environmental, circular economy, and social aspects, drawing on lessons learned from previous projects, including include local impacts, societal acceptance, ecological concerns, and life cycle costing.

To achieve these ambitious goals over the next four years, UPC will work with an international consortium of academic institutions, research centres, and companies from 8 countries: Spain (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Sener Mobility, Hulleras del Norte - HUNOSA, Fundación Asturiana de Diversificación Minera - FAEN), France (GE Hydro France, Électricité de France - EDF, Kaizen Solutions, Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - INPG), Portugal (EDP-Energias de Portugal, EDP NEW - EDPN, Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Tecnologia e Ciência - INESCTEC), Switzerland (Alstom Renewable, Haute école specialisée de Suisse occidentale, Andritz Hydro), Germany (vgbe energy), the Netherlands (Universiteit Twente), Norway (Norwegian Research Centre - NORCE), and Belgium (Zabala Innovation).

Zabala Innovation Europe
Rue Belliard 20 - 5th floor
1040 Brussels, Belgium
Janire García: janiregarcia@zabala.eu
Marta Rodríguez: martarodriguez@zabala.eu

Zabala Innovation is a leading international consultancy firm specialising in comprehensive R&D and innovation management services. It has extensive experience in proposal writing, project management, and communication and dissemination activities of EU projects.

The best university in Spain and one of the top 50 in the world for civil and structural engineering, the UPC is a public institution for engineering, architecture, science and technology.

Part of the GE Vernova Group, an energy equipment manufacturing and services company, GE Hydro France designs and manufactures the entire hydropower plant equipment chain, including power turbines and generators.

EDPN is the research and development centre of the EDP Group, a Portuguese electric utilities company, dedicated to developing new solutions to meet the challenges of the energy sector.

EDPP, part of the EDP Group, provides management and dynamisation services in the field of power generation, particularly in terms of digitalisation and the introduction of new technologies, to improve operational efficiency and increase productivity.

EDF is a French electric utility that produces, distributes, and sells electricity from various energy sources, including hydropower. It produces 80% of the country's hydroelectricity.

INESC TEC is a research and development institute that acts as a link between academia, industry and the public administration in the fields of information technology, telecommunications and electronics.

Ranked as the best technical university in the Netherlands, Universiteit Twente combines engineering, science and technology with social sciences. It has also produced more spin-off companies and startups than any other Dutch university.

vgbe is an international technical association of companies in the electricity sector, including plant operators. It has expertise in techno-economic and environmental issues related to hydropower.

NORCE is a Norwegian government-owned research institute with expertise in hydropower, condition monitoring, advanced control systems and environmental impact.

Based in the Inovallée technology park in France, Kaizen Solutions is a software engineering services company specialising in critical information and industrial systems in the energy and defence sectors.

INPG is France's fifth best university and largest grande école, it offers bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering. INPG is involved in a wide range of research activities, focusing on fluid mechanics and related transport phenomena.

Sener is a Spanish engineering and technology group providing consultancy and hydraulic engineering services in all phases of the integrated water cycle. With offices in five continents, it is one of the leading engineering design companies in Spain.

HUNOSA is a Spanish state-owned company, part of the State Industrial Holding Company, operating in the energy and the environment sectors. After decades as a leading company in the mining sector, it has turned to renewable energies, reusing old mining shafts.

FAEN is a public foundation owned by the regional government of the Principality of Asturias that provides advice, services, research and training in the fields of energy and environmental sustainability.

Part of the GE Vernova Group, Alstom Renewable is a global leader in renewable energy technologies. It designs, manufactures and installs equipment for both gravity-fed and pumped storage hydropower plants.

The HES-SO is the largest university of applied sciences in Switzerland. It works closely with regional SMEs and has expertise in modelling and analysing the operation of power system resources in both simulation and experimental contexts.

Andritz Hydro is part of the Andritz Group, an international technology group. It specialises in hydropower electromechanical equipment and real-time sensor data to detect anomalies.

This release was published on openPR.