Pumped for Power! The role of pumped storage in a clean energy system

Electricity systems are undergoing a significant transition to dependence on variable renewable energy, whether that is driven by economic, energy security or environmental concerns. The reverse of that coin is the need for complementary “clean, firm” power sources, of which pumped storage can be a key part.

This session will feature senior figures from governments, generators, TSOs and analysts discussing the place of pumped storage in this new world. Key questions to be addressed include:

• What is driving the demand for LDES and how much do we need?
• When to use pumped storage and when to use alternative storage solutions?
• What is the role of global storage targets?
• What are the right policy tools to enable investment in pumped storage?
• How can pumped storage capitalise on the benefits of localised supply chains and enabling the roll-out of other renewables to gain social licence?

Session objectives

• Understand the key drivers of the need for storage, particularly long-duration electricity storage.
• Set out the leading actors’ views on the market, such as when the need for storage becomes acute and what the impact of volatile power prices is on consumers.
• Describe where pumped storage sits within the broader storage landscape, how lithium-ion costs and capabilities will develop and what other technologies may be available within the LDES space.