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Both companies will evaluate the feasibility of building a 10 MW, 10-hour HD Hydro system in Chile, a pumping system that uses a fluid that is 2.5 times denser than water. Chilean energy company Colbún signed an agreement with the British clean technology company RheEnergise to explore the potential development of a form of long-duration hydroenergy storage from said company, known as High-Density Hydro (HD Hydro). The consortium explains that RheEnergises HD Hydro storage system is “less expensive, energy efficient and quick to develop and build.” Instead of water, it uses a fluid that is 2.5 times denser than water and friendly to the environment. In addition, it is not affected by the risks of water shortages and can provide 2.5 times more energy than a conventional low-density hydroelectric system, according to the company. Thanks to this, HD Hydro can be installed under the surface of hills instead of mountains. Thus, in times of low energy demand, the high-density fluid R-19 is pumped uphill between storage tanks (buried underground). The storage tanks are connected by underground pipes. As energy demand increases, the fluid is released downhill and passes through turbines, generating electricity to supply power to the grid. In Chile, both companies will work together to evaluate the viability of building a 10 MW, 10-hour HD Hydro system, which will also mark Rhe-Energises debut in South America. Depending on the outcome of these efforts, which will be implemented in the next 12 months, both aim for their first 10 MW system to come into commercial operation in 2030. Generally, RheEnergise projects will range between 5 MW and 100 MW of power and, according to the company, can operate with vertical elevations of 100 m or less. “This means that, unlike conventional pumped hydro energy storage, a RheEnergise HD Hydro system can operate under small hills rather than mountains; the system requires 2.5 times less vertical lift,” the company says, adding that this also means there are many more sites suitable for RheEnergise projects. Colbún states that he “sees the deployment of RheEnergises HD Hydro as a way to complement its current hydroelectric, wind and solar portfolio, with this new technology, which would contribute to solving the problem of intermittency of renewable energy.” |
