CASE STUDY As the role of renewable energy continues to grow in North America, the electrical grid becomes more vulnerable to the fluctuations produced by wind and solar power. When the wind drops or the sun retreats behind a cloud, power generation from these sources is reduced. Power providers must fill in the gap with electricity produced from other sources. Pumped storage plants provide a way to “store” excess off-peak energy produced from solar and wind sources, as well as from fossil and nuclear powered generating plants. During peak demand periods, the pumped storage units are operated in the generate mode and provide a ready source of energy that can be brought on line quickly to meet customer demand and compensate for sudden drops in wind and solar generation. The Ludi

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