Feb 14 2011
Utility companies, Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy, have proposed to invest about $40 million each in a year over the next 10 years to upgrade the output of the Michigan-based Ludington pumped storage hydropower plant from 1,872 MW to 2,172 MW. The project is slated to run from 2013 to 2019.
Ludington is operational since 1973. CMS Energy’s division and operator of the facility, Consumers Energy, owns 51% of the facility, while DTE Energy’s division, Detroit Edison owns the remaining 49%. According to the utility firms, Ludington could store more clean energy generated by wind farms, as additional wind production is included in the Midwest area.
Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy have chosen Toshiba International to produce and deploy devices to enhance the output and efficiency of the six 312-MW hydropower units of the plant. During night when power demand is low, the Ludington facility pumps water from Lake Michigan raising 372 ft. to its 27 billion gallon reservoir. During the day when demand for power is high, the water is discharged via turbines to produce electricity. As of now, the facility generates power to meet the demands of about 1.4 million people and the upgrade will increase that number to 1.65 million, according to the firms.