Hydropower breakthrough could allow UK hills to store and release as much energy as larger hydro plants

Traditional hydropower plant

Uses water to spin the

generating turbines which

in turn create electricity

Water

Dam or

reservoir

100 MW

station

Water pumped back

to reservoir

when electricity

demand is low

Water

Turbine

High-intensity hydropower

Uses a dense, mineral-rich

suspension to provide as much

power as a much higher drop

100 MW

station

R19

R19

Turbine

Traditional hydropower plant

Uses water to spin the

generating turbines which

in turn create electricity

Water

Dam or

reservoir

100 MW

station

Water

Water pumped back to reservoir

when electricity demand is low

Turbine

High-intensity hydropower

Uses a dense, mineral-rich

suspension to provide as much

power as a much higher drop

100 MW

station

R19

R19

Turbine

High-intensity hydropower

Uses a dense, mineral-rich

suspension to provide as much

power as a much higher drop

Traditional hydropower plant

Uses water to spin the

generating turbines which

in turn create electricity

Water

Dam or

reservoir

100 MW

station

100 MW

station

R19

Water pumped

back to reservoir

when electricity

demand is low

R19

Water

Turbine

Turbine

Traditional hydropower plant

Uses water to spin the

generating turbines which

in turn create electricity

High-intensity hydropower

Uses a dense, mineral-rich

suspension to provide as much

power as a much higher drop

Water

Dam or

reservoir

100 MW

station

100 MW

station

R19

Water

Water pumped back to reservoir

when electricity demand is low

R19

Turbine

Turbine