Risk Mitigation and Investability of a U-PHS Project in The Netherlands
We review the status of a 1.4 GW, 8 GWh underground pumped hydro storage (U-PHS) project in the southern Netherlands, which has been under development since the 1980s. Its history shows how the prospect of a large-scale U-PHS for The Netherlands (a country whose proverbial flatness prohibits PHS) ha...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/19/5072 |
| _version_ | 1797552436434436096 |
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| author | Gert Jan Kramer Twan Arts Janos L. Urai Han Vrijling Jan M. H. Huynen |
| author_facet | Gert Jan Kramer Twan Arts Janos L. Urai Han Vrijling Jan M. H. Huynen |
| author_sort | Gert Jan Kramer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We review the status of a 1.4 GW, 8 GWh underground pumped hydro storage (U-PHS) project in the southern Netherlands, which has been under development since the 1980s. Its history shows how the prospect of a large-scale U-PHS for The Netherlands (a country whose proverbial flatness prohibits PHS) has been attractive in every decade, based on proven technology in a subsurface location with validated properties, and solid analysis of its economics. Although the ongoing energy transition clearly requires massive electricity storage, (U-)PHS projects are challenging investment propositions, in The Netherlands, as elsewhere. This case study illustrates a point of general relevance, namely that although the project execution risk, related to uncertainty with respect to subsurface integrity, is very low, the transition risk, associated with the intrinsic uncertainties of an electricity system in transition, is significant. We point out mitigation strategies for both risk categories. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:00:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ace2c862f5904ab4803615a144ddc9aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:00:02Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-ace2c862f5904ab4803615a144ddc9aa2023-11-20T15:21:09ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-09-011319507210.3390/en13195072Risk Mitigation and Investability of a U-PHS Project in The NetherlandsGert Jan Kramer0Twan Arts1Janos L. Urai2Han Vrijling3Jan M. H. Huynen4Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The NetherlandsO-PAC Ontwikkelingsmij, Vrijthof 48, 6211 LE Maastricht, The NetherlandsInstitute for Structural Geology, Tectonics and Geomechanics, RWTH Aachen University, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, D-52056 Aachen, GermanyDepartment of Hydraulic Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, The NetherlandsSogecom B.V., Vrijthof 48, 6211 LE Maastricht, The NetherlandsWe review the status of a 1.4 GW, 8 GWh underground pumped hydro storage (U-PHS) project in the southern Netherlands, which has been under development since the 1980s. Its history shows how the prospect of a large-scale U-PHS for The Netherlands (a country whose proverbial flatness prohibits PHS) has been attractive in every decade, based on proven technology in a subsurface location with validated properties, and solid analysis of its economics. Although the ongoing energy transition clearly requires massive electricity storage, (U-)PHS projects are challenging investment propositions, in The Netherlands, as elsewhere. This case study illustrates a point of general relevance, namely that although the project execution risk, related to uncertainty with respect to subsurface integrity, is very low, the transition risk, associated with the intrinsic uncertainties of an electricity system in transition, is significant. We point out mitigation strategies for both risk categories.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/19/5072pumped hydro storageelectricity storagerenewable energyelectric grid stabilizationenergy transitionregional economic development |
| spellingShingle | Gert Jan Kramer Twan Arts Janos L. Urai Han Vrijling Jan M. H. Huynen Risk Mitigation and Investability of a U-PHS Project in The Netherlands Energies pumped hydro storage electricity storage renewable energy electric grid stabilization energy transition regional economic development |
| title | Risk Mitigation and Investability of a U-PHS Project in The Netherlands |
| title_full | Risk Mitigation and Investability of a U-PHS Project in The Netherlands |
| title_fullStr | Risk Mitigation and Investability of a U-PHS Project in The Netherlands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk Mitigation and Investability of a U-PHS Project in The Netherlands |
| title_short | Risk Mitigation and Investability of a U-PHS Project in The Netherlands |
| title_sort | risk mitigation and investability of a u phs project in the netherlands |
| topic | pumped hydro storage electricity storage renewable energy electric grid stabilization energy transition regional economic development |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/19/5072 |
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