CG: n
CT: The production and consumption of electricity do not always run together concurrently. Both in industrial nations as well as in developing countries with a rising need for energy, there are daily fluctuations in the electricity grid. Pumped storage power plants are ideally suited worldwide in helping to even out these frequent changes between electricity shortages and surpluses.
Reliable and quick
As opposed to thermal power stations, pumped storage power plants are able to react in the shortest possible time to network fluctuations, by generating the required electricity or by absorbing any excess. Modern systems need just thirty seconds to start the pumps or turbines up from a standstill. In the event of a power failure, pumped storage power plants can re-establish the power supply to the network without an external energy supply.
S: VOITH – http://www.voith.com/en/markets-industries/industries/hydro-power/pumped-storage-plants-541.html (last access: 10 December 2014)
N: 1. pump (n): “apparatus for forcing liquid or air,” early 15c., of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle Dutch pompe “water conduit, pipe,” or Middle Low German pumpe “pump” (Modern German Pumpe), both from some North Sea sailors’ word, possibly of imitative origin.
storage (n): 1610s, “space for storing,” from store (v.) + -age. Storage unit as a household piece attested from 1951.
power (n): c.1300, “ability; ability to act or do; strength, vigor, might,” especially in battle; “efficacy; control, mastery, lordship, dominion; legal power or authority; authorization; military force, an army,” from Anglo-French pouair, Old French povoir, noun use of the infinitive, “to be able,” earlier podir (9c.), from Vulgar Latin potere, from Latin potis “powerful”.
station (n): late 13c., “place which one normally occupies,” from Old French stacion, estacion “site, location; station of the Cross; stop, standstill,” from Latin stationem (nominative statio) “a standing, standing firm; a post, job, position; military post; a watch, guard, sentinel; anchorage, port” (related to stare “to stand”), from PIE ste-ti-, suffixed form of root sta- “to stand”.
2. A pumped storage power plant is a hydroelectric plant which can be “charged” up again by pumping the water back to the upper reservoir once it has passed through a turbine.
3. The power needed for pumping is obtained from the system when excess power-producing capacity is available and would be wasted were it not used for this purpose.
S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=pump&allowed_in_frame=0 (last access 10 December 2014). 2. SD – http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130515085343.htm (last access 10 December 2014). 3. TERMIUMPLUS.
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