Pumped Storage Industry Scale

What is a pumped storage facility?

Pumped storage facilities are built to push water from a lower reservoir uphill to an elevated reservoir during times of surplus electricity. In pumping mode, electric energy is converted to potential energy and stored in the form of water at an upper elevation, which is why it is sometimes called a “water battery”.

What is the global pumped storage hydropower industry?

In 2023, pumped hydropower was the dominant global electricity storage solution, accounting for 62 percent of the world’s energy storage capacity. Discover all statistics and data on Global pumped storage hydropower industry now on statista.com!

What is the 2024 pumped storage report?

The National Hydropower Association (NHA) released the 2024 Pumped Storage Report, which details both the promise and the challenges facing the U.S. pumped storage hydropower industry. As the global community accelerates its transition toward renewable energy, the importance of reliable energy storage becomes increasingly evident.

How much pumped storage does the United States need?

For the United States to meet its corresponding share of the global net zero goals, it would require an average of about 1000 MW of new PSH installed yearly. The United States needs new pumped storage to meet its long-duration energy storage needs and support its federal and state renewable energy targets.

What is pumped storage & how does it work?

Pumped storage today makes up 97 percent of utility-scale energy storage in the United States at 42 sites with a total of 23 GW of capacity. Pumped storage facilities are built to push water from a lower reservoir uphill to an elevated reservoir during times of surplus electricity.

What is pumped storage hydropower (PSH)?

Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) currently accounts for over 90% of storage capacity and stored energy in grid scale applications globally. The current storage volume of PSH stations is at least 9,000 GWh, whereas batteries amount to just 7-8 GWh.