Reservoir Release Planner
Stored energy (V·ρ·g·H·η), release flow for target MW and runtime — reservoir dispatch.
The operator's question inverted: to hold X MW through the evening peak, release Y m³/s — and the runtime row says how long the live storage lasts. Dispatch math for small reservoir plants in one screen.
Reservoir dispatch: E = V·ρ·g·H·η. Water's energy density is humble (~2.7 Wh/m³ per metre of head) — which is why pumped storage needs mountains and reservoirs, and why a rooftop tank will never be a power bank. The release planner answers the operational question: how long can we run at X MW?
Engineering estimate from published standards and typical equipment data. Site conditions, equipment datasheets and measured data govern the real result — confirm with a qualified engineer.
Use the free Reservoir Release Planner online — Stored energy (V·ρ·g·H·η), release flow for target MW and runtime — reservoir dispatch. Runs instantly in your browser: no signup, no upload, mobile-friendly.
About Reservoir Release Planner
The operator's question inverted: to hold X MW through the evening peak, release Y m³/s — and the runtime row says how long the live storage lasts. Dispatch math for small reservoir plants in one screen.
How to use Reservoir Release Planner
- 1Enter usable volume and effective head.
- 2Set turbine efficiency and your target output.
- 3Read stored energy, required release flow and runtime.
Why use Reservoir Release Planner?
- ✓E = V·ρ·g·H·η — storage energy with honest unit handling
- ✓Release-planner mode: flow needed for a target MW, runtime at that rate
- ✓Battery-equivalent line calibrates intuition
- ✓Water's humble Wh/m³ made visible
Frequently asked questions
How much energy does stored water hold?+
E(kWh) = volume × 9.81 × head × efficiency ÷ 3.6×10⁶ — about 2.7 Wh per m³ per metre of head. A farm pond (5,000 m³) behind 30 m holds ~330 kWh; a pumped-storage upper lake (500,000 m³, 150 m) holds ~180 MWh. Head and volume multiply; neither alone suffices.
Why is pumped storage built despite 75–80% efficiency?+
Scale, lifetime and price: reservoirs store gigawatt-hours for 80–100 years with cheap civil works per kWh — batteries can't touch the duration economics. The 20–25% round-trip toll is paid happily for absorbing cheap midday solar and selling the evening peak.
Can a rooftop tank store meaningful energy?+
No — and this tool proves it kindly: 10,000 L at 15 m holds 0.33 kWh, a phone-bank's worth. Water storage is for water; energy storage needs either mountains of head or chemistry. The viral 'gravity battery at home' idea dies in one calculation here.
How do I plan reservoir releases for power?+
Invert the equation: flow for X MW = X×10⁶ ÷ (9.81 × head × efficiency). The runtime row then divides live storage by that flow — answering 'can we hold 2 MW through the evening peak?' in one screen. Real dispatch adds inflow forecasts and rule curves on top.
Embed Reservoir Release Planner on your website
Want Reservoir Release Planneron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
<iframe src="https://tooljolt.com/tools/reservoir-release-planner" width="100%" height="640" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;max-width:680px" title="Reservoir Release Planner — ToolJolt" loading="lazy"></iframe>Related Energy tools
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