Feasibility study of mid-head open-loop pumped hydro storage along Michigan's shoreline

As the energy system undergoes a growing reliance on renewable energy while the role of conventional thermal power declines, a utility-scale energy storage system of sufficient capacity may help to ensure supply reliability. Pumped Hydro Storage (PHS) technology dominates utility-scale energy storage and, with its unique advantages, is poised to serve as a mature solution for addressing the inherent intermittency and unpredictability of renewable energy. Past research on PHS has given priority to a substantial elevation difference, which has led to an underestimation of its potential. Therefore, this study focuses on mid-head PHS (30–100 m) and explores its technical feasibility in the Great Lakes region, where large natural basins and suitable topography provide favorable conditions for this type of PHS, aligning with the possible future development of lake-based wind power, indicating potential synergies in power integration and infrastructure co-location. This study identifies the distribution of potential open-loop PHS sites along the Great Lakes shoreline within Michigan and demonstrates that their storage potential far exceeds the storage required for carbon reduction goals in the following decades. The economic analysis also demonstrates that the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for these storage systems, which meet the demand, is only $30–40/MWh, far lower than other utility-scale energy storage technologies. The study also conducts a sensitivity analysis on the technical parameters of site identification, aiming to address various circumstances regarding preferences and conditions, and demonstrates that the storage in each scenario still far exceeds the required amount. • Identified mid-head (30–100 m) pumped hydro storage sites along the Michigan shoreline • Demonstrated storage potential far exceeds future demand for Michigan's decarbonization goals • Identified abundant PHS sites with LCOE ($30–40/MWh) lower than other storage types • Conducted sensitivity analysis of water head and slope; storage remains well above demand