Promoting the construction of flexible and decentralized small and medium-sized pumped storage power stations is conducive to implementing the dual‑carbon goal and improving regional new energy consumption capacity.
Therefore, on the basis of conventional small hydropower, the transformation into a small pumped storage power station or joint operation with pumped storage can reduce the cost, shorten the construction period, solve the problem of site selection, improve the power station output in the dry season, and increase the economic benefits.
Small and medium-sized pumped storage power stations are mainly used to store clean energy such as wind and solar energy. Pumped storage has the characteristics of flexible operation and low environmental pressure, so it is a mature energy storage method with high economy and large capacity .
The economic evaluation of small and medium-sized pumped storage power stations is an important means to evaluate the construction and operation costs of power stations. Economic evaluation includes the evaluation of investment cost, operation cost and economic benefit of power station.
The pumped storage power station (PSPS) is a special power source that has flexible operation modes and multiple functions. With the rapid economic development in China, the energy demand and the peak-valley load difference of the power grid are continuing to increase.
In 2021, the National Energy Administration made it clear in the Medium and Long Term Development Plan for Pumped Storage (2021–2035) that the construction of small and medium-sized pumped storage power stations should be planned according to local conditions in provinces with better resources.