Pumped hydropower storage receives policy support

What is pumped storage hydropower (PS)?

Pumped Storage Hydropower (PS) is the largest form of renewable energy storage, with nearly 200 GW installed capacity, providing more than 90% of all long duration energy storage across the world with more than 400 projects in operation.

What is pumped storage hydroelectricity?

This is evident from the difficulties in absorbing wind power from already commissioned wind farms and the resultant curtailment of wind power. Pumped storage hydroelectricity (PSH) is a flexible power source that can facilitate higher penetration levels of wind power as well as complement China’s growing nuclear power capacity.

What is China doing to promote pumped storage hydroelectricity?

Makes policy recommendations for promoting pumped storage hydroelectricity in China. As part of its energy transition strategy, China has set ambitious targets for increasing the contribution of renewable energy and, in particular, of wind power.

When did pumped storage hydroelectricity plants start?

Fig. 1. Principle of pumped storage hydroelectricity plants. Source: . The use of PSH started as early as 1890 in Italy and Switzerland. More generally, the majority of plants were built from 1960s to the late 1980s. This was due, in part, to the rush to nuclear energy after the oil crises in the early 1970s.

How does a hydroelectric power plant work?

Pumping the water uphill for temporary storage ‘recharges the battery’ and, during periods of high electricity demand, the stored water is released back through the turbines and converted back to electricity like a conventional hydroelectricity plant.

Should PSH plants be integrated into the grid company operation cost?

According to Document No. 1571, the PSH plants approved subsequent to the promulgation of Document No. 71 should only be invested and operated by the grid company and no FIT would be set for these plants. The construction and operation costs of these PSH plants should be integrated into the grid company operation cost.