There is an issue facing the energy system of New York that very few people ever know about.
Electricity has to be ready the minute somebody flips the light switch.
Demand goes up. Demand goes down. Weather gets warmer or colder. Production of power goes up or goes down because of weather.
Utilities cannot just build power plants and then just wait for people to turn on their lights later. They must keep the “grid” perfectly balanced between how much electricity is being produced and how much electricity is being used.
The need to balance supply and demand was the reason behind the construction of one of New York’s most unique energy projects.
Water becomes a tool for storing energy
Located in Schoharie County, this energy project uses massive amounts of water as a form of energy storage, with the enormous vertical drop between its reservoirs helping the facility store and generate electricity.
The true story of the energy generated is what occurs after the water drops down to the bottom of the facility.
Most hydroelectric facilities operate off of rivers continually flowing in only one direction. Blenheim-Gilboa operates differently.
This facility includes two separate reservoirs located at different levels of elevation. The water from the top-level reservoir flows into the lower-level reservoir, producing electricity during its journey downward.
This portion of the facility is similar to all other forms of traditional hydropower.
What happens after the water reaches the bottom?
That is not the entire story of this energy-generating process. When the demand for electricity declines and more electricity becomes readily available, the facility can run in reverse.
Water that has already generated electricity can also be pumped back up to the upper reservoir for use in future cycles.
Instead of storing chemical energy in battery banks, the facility stores energy in terms of positioning the water. The more elevated the water is, the greater the amount of potential energy contained within it.
During high demand times, the stored energy becomes available to operators as needed.
Generating electricity is only part of the challenge
Generating electricity is only half the equation in providing reliable service to an electric grid.
Timing can become equally as important as availability of electricity.
At some times, there will be low demand on the electric grid, while other times there will be rapid spikes in demand.
The task is to provide sufficient quantities of electricity at the time these rapid spikes occur.
Reliability and resiliency are considered necessary components of maintaining our country’s energy systems.
The NYSERDA Energy Assurance Plan describes the nation’s energy infrastructure as highly interconnected, meaning disruptions can affect multiple parts of the system simultaneously.
This is where storage becomes different
It is here that storage comes into play.
A generator can produce electricity when conditions allow it to do so. However, a storage facility can help make that energy available to consumers at a later time.
The two roles are complementary; however, they are not identical.
The ability of Blenheim-Gilboa to push water back uphill enables energy to be stored in a manner that can be called upon at a future time. Therefore, Blenheim-Gilboa offers more than just generation capabilities; it also provides flexibility.
Storage becomes more valuable as conditions change
Electricity systems continue to evolve. More generation sources can be dependent on changing environmental conditions.
Generation output may increase. Generation output may decrease.
Grid operators must continue to ensure grid stability even though generation output fluctuates.
One of the goals of New York’s Energy Assurance Plan is to improve energy reliability and strengthen emergency response preparation. The plan also highlights the interconnected nature of New York’s energy systems and the need to understand those relationships.
Facilities that can store and release energy fit well within this goal, as they represent additional tools for grid operators to use when balancing supply and demand requirements.
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