Evaluation of Proposed Storage Sites

Screening models and on-site visits by a team composed of engineers, geologists, and biologists were used to identify ten sites in the Southwest suitable for developing a pumped storage facility with a 600 MW capacity. This paper discusses the decision analysis used to rank the sites. The study included the consideration of economic, environmental, and technological concerns relating to the sites and their required transmission lines. Using sensitivity analyses, we identified factors critical to the ranking.