So far pumped-storage hydroelectricity systems are only found throughout the world on a large scale but there are barely any systems on a small scale. Two researchers from the ULB Brussels School of Engineering studied whether those systems could also be used on a small scale. They work as follows: water is pumped up to a reservoir located on a higher ground and afterwards it is released which drives a turbine and produces electricity. The reasons why this systems do not work as good on a small scall is because large amounts of water are necessary and large and heavy facilities are needed that are difficult to install. It is also questionable how the water quality will be. Moreover other storage options seem to be more cost-effective. Environmental as well as ecological impacts of hydrosystems have not been calculated and compared to other technologies so far.
Phys.org
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