Pumped-Storage Hydroelectricity

Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is a well-established and widely used method for large-scale energy storage. It utilizes gravitational potential energy to store and generate electricity.

Water is pumped to an elevated reservoir using excess electricity and released to flow back down through turbines to generate electricity when needed. This process stores energy by converting electrical energy into potential energy.

Pumped hydro can store large amounts of energy for extended periods. It typically requires specific geographical features, such as mountains and large water reservoirs.

Pumped hydro storage is highly efficient and excels in providing large-scale energy storage. It plays a crucial role in balancing grid supply and demand and offers long-term storage with minimal energy loss.

Upfront costs for projects can be high. There are significant environmental impacts to consider, along with specific geographical requirements that must be met to ensure efficient operations.