I got this idea about small scale pumped hydro yesterday.
Instead of pumping water
above the surface to store energy, why not pump it
to the surface?
I'm thinking about a well, and wells can be tens or even 100 meters deep, so that gives quite a bit of head. On the surface would be a pond.
Of course, not good for all locations, since the well would have to be able to accept the amount of water that will be dropped while generating electricity.
Add a windmill that pumps water directly (like in old farms).
What do you think?
Edit: A quick search found this
Pumped Storage: Using Water Towers, Aquifer Well Pumps to Generate Energy During Peak Demand Periods