Ludington Pumped Storage: Michigan’s “Big Battery” [video]
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Authors
Broschak, John
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2019-02-22
Date
February 22, 2019 | DRMI Auditorium | 1300 – 1430
Publisher
Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California
Language
en_US
Abstract
Between 1969 and 1973, Michigan’s two largest utilities—Consumers Energy and DTE Energy—joined forces to build the world’s largest pumped storage plant along the shores of Lake Michigan. At the time, the $327 million project was the largest of its kind, earning it a spot on the list of Michigan’s Top 10 Civil Engineering Projects for the 20th Century. Today, the plant remains a major contributor to Michigan’s electric grid—ensuring affordable, reliable energy for the state’s residents. The plant’s technology is unique in that it responds quickly to energy demands. When demand is low, typically at night, Ludington’s reversible turbines pump water from Lake Michigan 363 feet uphill to the reservoir. And during the day, when demand for electricity is high and the cost of energy is greater, the pumps are reversed, and water flows back down through the pipes, turning turbines that produce affordable electricity. The 27-billion-gallon man-made reservoir measures 2.5 miles long and one mile wide. It can generate over 2,000 megawatts of electricity and produce over 15,000 megawatt hours. The plant is currently undergoing a seven-year, $800 million upgrade, with plans for completion in 2020. This presentation will discuss the engineering marvel that is Ludington Pumped Storage, including an overview of the plant’s numerous grid benefits and upgrade schedule. It will also discuss the importance of pumped storage as an energy source, comparing it to the increasingly popular topic of battery storage.
Type
Video
Description
NPS Defense Energy Seminar
Mr. John Broschak, Vice President, Consumers Energy Company
Mr. John Broschak, Vice President, Consumers Energy Company
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Duration: 1:16:02 Filesize: 638.1 MB
Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.