Generation Challenge—Ludington Pumped Storage

This paper covers the Ludington Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant from two viewpoints. The first is from the Plant's point of view which includes a physical description of the Plant, the Plant operations, and various equipment and operating problems. The physical description of the Plant covers the upper reservoir, the penstocks, the powerhouse, the breakwater and jetties, and the pump-turbine motor-generator units. Plant operations deal with the Plant's staffing and examine the various modes of operation the units are capable of. The second point of view is on how the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant integrates into the operation of the Michigan Electric Coordinated System which consists of the Consumers Power Company and The Detroit Edison Company. This is accomplished by examining: (1)The decision to build such a plant; and (2)the philosophy of operating it. The controversy revolving around the philosophy of operating the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant encompasses the economics and accounting of both the daily and weekly operations.