Hydropower and long-duration energy storage with Kate Gilmartin (CEO @ The British Hydropower Association)

Dec 12, 2024

Kate Gilmartin, Chief Executive at the British Hydropower Association and an expert in renewable and community energy, discusses the multifaceted benefits of hydropower. She explores the various technologies, especially pumped storage, as 'water batteries' supporting grid resilience. Kate highlights challenges in investment and planning while advocating for innovations like the cap and floor mechanism. The conversation also touches on the exciting potential of tidal range energy and the importance of local energy solutions in driving a sustainable energy transition.

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INSIGHT

Pumped Hydro's Role

Pumped hydro acts as a 'water battery,' using off-peak electricity to pump water uphill for later release during peak demand.
This setup helps balance intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind.

INSIGHT

Storage Duration

The duration of pumped hydro storage depends on reservoir capacity and plant operation.
Longer durations are possible but may come at the expense of maximum power output.

INSIGHT

Hydropower's Reliability

Hydropower boasts a high capacity factor, meaning consistent energy generation.
This reliability makes it a valuable asset during low wind/solar periods.

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Hydropower is a renewable, reliable source of energy that consistently meets peak demand while also offering long-duration, high-capacity storage and generation solutions for Great Britain. From tidal range systems to pumped hydro, hydropower encompasses a range of proven technologies with predictable performance and a track record of durability. The question now is: what must change to fully harness the potential of these invaluable energy assets?

In this episode, Kate Gilmartin, Chief Executive at the British Hydropower Association, joins Ed to discuss the different types of hydropower and the role of this technology in long duration energy storage. Over the course of the conversation, they discuss:

The differences between the different hydropower technologies.

The evolving role of pumped hydro with the rise of renewable energy sources.
Importance of the technology in local energy solutions and grid resilience.
Exploration of the challenges in developing new pumped hydro projects, including investment and planning hurdles.
How the cap and floor mechanism provides a potential solution for investment security.

About our guest

The British Hydropower Association (BHA) is the leading trade membership association solely representing the interests of the UK hydropower industry. Striving to ensure that the full potential and associated economic and community benefits are fully realised, the BHA is open to all types of organizations, with the aim of driving growth in the sector by engaging, influencing and promoting hydropower, tidal range and pumped storage hydro as proven, reliable, renewable power, providing critical infrastructure for achieving net zero and energy security. For more information on what the BHA do, check out their website.

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy provides forecasts, benchmarking, data, and insights for new energy assets - all in one place. Built for analysts, Modo helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our video series of bite-sized chunks explaining how different battery energy storage systems work.