Currently energy storage systems are indispensable for the energy supply system. They are needed to ensure the required balance between production and demand of energy. As a short to medium term storage pumped storage plants have been used economically over a long period of time, but their expansion is limited locally and ther was not much need for them in Norway in the past. The use of underground reservoirs instead of surface lakes could increase expansion opportunities and overcome limitations. Existing tunnels could be used as reservoirs, too.
The aim of this master thesis is to investigate the potential in Norway, the sustainability of different concepts and to explain the hydrodynamics, for which we can provide fundamental knowledge and existing research results.
Photo: Nant det Drance (Elena Pummer)