Development of a techno-economical model for the revamping of conventional small hydro to pumped-storage hydropower plants

Climate change is causing irreversible impacts on Earth's ecosystems, requiring humanity to urgently rethink its approach to energy resource exploitation and electricity production. One of the key solutions for preserving the planet is transitioning to electricity generation from renewable sources, with hydropower currently being the most productive RES (Renewable Energy Source). However, the intermittency and unpredictability of these sources pose challenges, making energy storage systems crucial for optimizing the use of "clean energy" as we progress towards a fully decarbonized world. After the introductory chapters, which emphasize the importance of energy storage and provide an overview of the current available technologies, this thesis focuses on pumped hydro storage (PHS) systems. In particular, it aims to present an innovative techno-economical model designed to evaluate the feasibility of revamping existing small hydropower plants into pumped-hydro storage (PHS) stations. The model analyzes historical time series data, such as flow rates and electricity prices, alongside plant infrastructure to determine the economic viability of transitioning from conventional small hydropower to pumped storage. Different design configurations, including binary, ternary, and quaternary systems, are explored to identify the most viable solutions from both a technical and economic perspective.