Usinas reversíveis como sistema de estabilização de geração para fontes intermitentes

Abstract

The growth of renewable energy generation contributes to the decarbonization and diversification of the electricity matrix. However, it also brings challenges to the electricity sector, such as the need to install energy storage systems. In this scenario, reversible hydroelectric power plants (UHR) become relevant, as they have the potential to mitigate the intermittency of renewable sources, such as wind and solar, and increase energy security. In this context, the present work aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing UHR to recover the reservoir level in existing hydroelectric power plants (UHE), operating from photovoltaic energy. The existing UHE are used to guarantee energy and system reliability, while the photovoltaic plant is used to stabilize reservoir levels and complement generation. In order to achieve this objective, a simulation of a photovoltaic plant was applied to the potential UHE through the calculation of the complementary power and economic study, selecting the UHE with a low capacity factor with the most subscribers to receive the hybridization project. later, the photovoltaic system was dimensioned for this complementary power, followed by the simulation of the NPV as a function of the power in order to find the optimal complementary power, concluding with the study of the application of the UHR. Aiming at not investing in repowering the substation and line, the results show that the NPV investment curve indicates that it is better to operate with energy loss due to excess generation in a few days than to operate without overcoming the substation and line. Usually with low flow rates and consequently less rainfall, photovoltaic generation achieves higher yields, thus optimizing the UHE's capacity factor and substation/line utilization. The results showed that it is more feasible for the photovoltaic plant to operate with energy loss due to excess generation in a few days than to operate without overcoming the substation power. The viability of the UHR applied for the recovery of the reservoir level is only ensured when high tariffs for the remuneration of the storage system are adopted.