Planning and building sustainable pumped storage with the Hydropower Sustainability Standard

Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is increasingly recognised as a key enabler of the clean energy transition, but does it face the same sustainability challenges as conventional hydropower?

This session will explore how the Hydropower Sustainability Standard applies to PSH projects, including both on-river and closed-loop configurations. Through practical accounts from those with direct experience using the Standard, the session will highlight sustainability considerations unique to PSH and how good and best practices can be demonstrated in this growing segment of the sector. 

Session objectives

• Introduce the Hydropower Sustainability Standard and its relevance to pumped storage hydropower (PSH) projects.
• Examine how sustainability challenges in PSH projects compare to those in conventional hydropower.
• Showcase real-world examples of applying the Standard to PSH projects, highlighting benefits and lessons learned.
• Encourage greater uptake of the Standard among developers, operators, and policymakers working with PSH to ensure responsible project development and operation.