What is pumped storage?

This has earned pumped storage its name as the world’s “water battery”. It is a mature and reliable technology capable of storing energy for daily or weekly cycles and up to months, as well as seasonal applications, depending on project scale and configurations.

How will pumped storage work in 2021?

In 2021, China released an ambitious plan to roll out pumped storage nationwide in an effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. China’s momentum has allowed it to surpass Europe’s capacity for pumped storage. Systems are also being built in the United States, where legislation has spurred renewable energy projects.

What is pumped storage hydro?

A dynamic energy storage solution, pumped storage hydro has helped ‘balance’ the electricity grid for more than five decades to match our fluctuating demand for energy. Pumped storage hydro (PSH) involves two reservoirs at different elevations.

How many pumped storage stations are in operation?

Figure 2: The plot above visualises (logarithmic scale used) the estimated discharge durations relative to installed capacity and energy storage capacity for some 250 pumped storage stations currently in operation, based on information from IHA’s Pumped Storage Tracking Tool.

Is pumped storage a mature technology?

Despite being a mature technology, the resurgence of interest in pumped storage has brought forth numerous new R&D initiatives. One prominent example is the European Commission’s four-year XFLEX HYDRO project, which aims to develop new technological solutions to enhance hydropower's flexibility.

Where can pumped storage be developed?

While often thought of as geographically constrained, recent studies have identified vast technical potential for pumped storage development worldwide. Research by the Australian National University highlighted over 600,000 potential sites for low-impact off-river pumped storage development, including locations in California.