Pumped storage hydropower enables greater integration of other renewables (wind/solar) into the grid by utilizing excess generation, and being ready to produce power during low wind and solar generation periods. It also has the ability to quickly ramp electricity generation up in response to periods of peak demand.
These schemes are still operational today. As evidenced by the large number of schemes still in operation after 100 years of service, hydropower has a very long operational life, providing true energy security. Reservoir hydro offers low-carbon, dispatchable generation and currently provides approximately 900 GWh of storage across multiple schemes.
Hydropower is making its comeback, and not just as a generation source. Water can act as a battery, too. It’s called pumped storage and it’s the largest and oldest form of energy storage in the country, and it’s the most efficient form of large-scale energy storage. Hydropower was America’s first renewable power source.
Hydropower creates 2% of annual UK generation. Two-thirds of hydropower generation is in winter, helping meet peak demand. Reservoir hydro is dispatchable. Run-of-river hydropower is less intermittent than wind and solar, providing a steady baseload across the winter months.
According to the 2016 DOE Hydropower Vision Report, another 35.5 GW of pumped storage hydro is estimated to be installed by 2050, adding to the potential addition of 16.2 GW by 2030, for a total installed base of 57.1 GW of domestic pumped storage.
PSH (Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity) is important for facilitating integration of variable generation resources such as wind and solar into the national power grid. Hydropower generation, including PSH, can provide grid flexibility, reserve capacity, and system inertia.