Using existing infrastructure: unlocking the potential of Brownfield

The goal of a just transition is to ensure that no one is left behind. To meet renewable energy targets, we must not only bridge the skills gap but also maximise the value of existing assets, whether its former industrial sites, ageing hydropower plants, or utilising existing infrastructure and reservoirs.

This session will focus on repurposing brownfield sites and existing reservoirs into pumped-storage hubs. By converting former mine voids, retrofitting dams, or siting new PSH schemes within intact reservoirs, developers can leverage pre-approved footprints, grid connections, and water rights to significantly reduce CAPEX and slash lead times.

It will showcase brownfield conversion successes, innovative storage system designs tailored to legacy structures, and the policy and financing models that drive socially equitable and environmentally sustainable redevelopment.

Session objectives

• Strategic site conversion: assessing potential and barriers for converting brownfields (mining voids) and bluefields (legacy hydropower) into PSH, with a focus on identifying barriers and site-selection criteria.
• Environmental and social considerations: balancing remediation, environmental restoration, and community engagement to ensure that the transformation supports a just and inclusive transition.
• Innovative technologies and infrastructure: examination of cutting-edge solutions—from advanced storage technologies to grid integration—that maximise the potential of repurposed sites.
• Policy, regulation and economic incentives: strategies for reforming policy and creating financial frameworks that reward sustainable redevelopment, including public-private partnerships and international best practices.
• Global case studies and lessons learned: insights from projects across different continents (e.g., North America, Europe, Asia) that have successfully navigated the complexities of converting brownfield sites.