Pumped Storage Hydropower Commercialization Resource Hub

Surging Demand for Pumped Storage Hydropower Services and Innovations

Developing new and enhanced PSH facilities has become even more important to support major U.S. energy policy goals and provide Americans with reliable, affordable and secure electricity to supply homes and businesses. PSH plants have  proven capabilities in providing operational flexibility, long-duration energy storage, and grid balancing services. PSH plants also contribute significantly to the flexibility and stability of the electricity grid by providing large amounts of electricity on demand. PSH facilities can ramp up or down and start and stop quickly to ensure communities stay up and running. Advances in PSH plant design and new PSH technologies, including plant components, materials, construction methods and other unit or plant-level advancements, offer many advantages in cost savings, operational efficiencies, improved grid services (flexibility, resiliency, ancillary services) and improved (reduced) environmental impacts. 

Finding Commercialization Opportunities to Overcome Challenges

While PSH facilities are the primary source of energy storage today and provide over 90% of energy storage in the U.S., the development of new PSH projects remains a significant challenge. The developers of mature PSH technologies face numerous regulatory, market, financial, environmental, and other challenges. For the developers of new and innovative PSH technologies, getting a demonstration project is a big hurdle for many technology developers. Financing and bankability criteria are important for both types of developers, as is a sound business plan. 

PSH developers would benefit from sharing lessons learned and best practices from PSH industry specialists on advancing through commercialization stages, different financing mechanisms and other commercialization options.

Sharing Resources and Networking to Support Pumped Storage Hydropower Stakeholders and Innovators

DOE-WPTO is working closely with U.S. national laboratories to help the broad spectrum of PSH stakeholders by examining lessons learned, best practices and success cases for developing new PSH technologies and facilities, and to provide knowledge of, and access to, commercialization training, project assessment and valuation tools, and professional network to build awareness and provide support for decision-makers and project developers to commercialize innovative PSH technologies.