Hydrodynamical and Hydrochemical Assessment of Pumped-Storage Hydropower (PSH) Using an Open Pit: The Case of Obourg Chalk Quarry in Belgium

Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) enables the temporary of energy, including from intermittent renewable sources, and provides answers to difficulties related mismatch between supply demand electrical energy over time. Implementing a PSH station requires two reservoirs at different elevations with large volumes water. The idea using old, flooded open-pit quarries as lower reservoir has recently emerged. However, cannot be considered impervious reservoirs, they are connected surrounding aquifers. As result, activities may entail environmental impacts. alternation pumping–discharge cycles generates rapid periodic hydraulic head fluctuations in quarry, which propagate into rock media forcing exchange water inducing aeration groundwater. This can destabilize chemical balances groundwater minerals underground media. In this study, numerical models based on chalk quarry Obourg (Belgium) were developed considering realistic scenarios. aim these was investigate hydrodynamic hydrochemical impact inside Results showed that (1) exchanges adjacent have significant influence head, (2) frequency pump–discharge scenarios potential impacts, (3), case formations, expected composition is relatively limited around quarry. highlight those hydrogeological concerns should assessed when developing project installation reservoir, all particularities proposed sites.