Pumped hydro storage emerges as key solution for renewable energy grids

Off-river pumped hydro storage presents a significant opportunity for stabilizing solar- and wind-dominated electricity grids. With an estimated 800,000 potential sites globally, the combined storage capacity could reach 86 million GWh, which is sufficient to absorb nearly three years of global electricity production. This technology is characterized by its long lifespan of up to 150 years, low water usage through closed-loop recycling, and lower capital costs per kWh compared to equivalent battery systems.

In the United States, a resurgence of hydropower is emerging to meet growing demand for non-fossil fuel power. While large-scale dam construction largely ceased in the 1990s, there are currently approximately 70 proposed pumped storage hydropower projects across the country. These modern projects, such as those proposed by Rye Development in Wise County, Virginia, tend to be smaller in scale than historical projects like Dominion Energy’s Bath County facility. Data from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory indicates that while many projects are concentrated in the West due to topography, several are moving through the licensing process in other regions.