Pumped Hydroelectric

GPM technology circumvents the traditional PSH difficulties associated with siting, negative environmental impact, huge land demands, permitting, long-lead times and the very large investment required.

Quidnet Energy pioneered a novel form of pumped hydro that is widely deployable at very low cost called Flex Formation Subsurface Pumped Hydro. Leveraging mature oil & gas technology, wells are converted into energy storage facilities for large-scale renewables integration and grid management.

As part of ARPA-E (DAYS) program, the Quidnet Energy team will develop a modified pumped hydro energy storage system using rocks beneath the Earth’s surface. The team will pump pressurized water into gaps in underground rocks. When energy is needed later, the induced strain in the surrounding rock will force water back through a generator to produce electricity.

The "Water Battery" is conventional pumped hydro storage (PHS) co-located with high hub-height wind turbines. The upper reservoir of the PHS is built at the base of the towers.

Energy is stored by pumping water into a purpose-built subsurface cavern that sits beneath a giant rock cylinder. The pumped water is held at pressure by the weight of the rock.