Bidirectional power flow of BLDC drive-based pump hydro storage connected to a grid-tied PV network

Pump hydro energy storage (PHES) is vital for grid stability. The traditional system lacks flexibility, so variable-speed machines are gaining attention. The study focuses on a variable-speed brushless direct current (BLDC) machine in PHES applications with a grid-tied solar photovoltaic framework. A single-phase grid side converter and a BLDC drive employ a d-q controller to achieve bidirectional power flow. Maximum power point tracking and a rule-based algorithm are used for optimal operation and energy management, respectively. The proposed topology offers benefits such as IEEE 519-compliant total harmonic distortion, DC bus voltage, and BLDC speed control. Results from MATLAB/Simulink show potential for reliable and sustainable energy architecture development.