Pumped storage | A proven solution
From Europe to Australia and the US, policymakers, researchers and developers are accelerating efforts to expand pumped storage. This global industry report examines deployment momentum, technical innovation and emerging social and regulatory challenges shaping long-duration energy storage.
EUROPE MUST BACK PUMPED storage to secure its energy future otherwise, without greater investment, the region faces wasted renewable generation, volatile prices, and mounting system risks. This was the stark warning from European
hydropower leaders and the International Hydropower Association, in an open letter sent to Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, during November 2025. Europe’s clean energy transition has reached a decisive moment with wind and solar being deployed at extraordinary scale, but because there is insufficient long-duration electricity storage, their full potential cannot be realised, signatories of the letter claim. Indeed to keep the lights on, Europe urgently needs more than 200GW of electricity storage by 2030 and 600GW by 2050, which would mean more than doubling the existing fleet within the next five years, and a seven-fold increase over the next two decades. The industry coalition says that pumped storage
Below: IHA President Malcolm Turnbull and Energy Minister Chris Bowen joined a bipartisan, high-level industry and policy event to launch the policy paper An Energy Secure Australia, setting out six concrete actions governments can take to unlock pumped storage at scale
is the proven and scalable solution to this challenge and currently provides more than 90% of the world’s electricity storage capacity. They go on to urge the European Commission and member states to develop clear mechanisms and investment frameworks to accelerate deployment, in line with the Commission’s stated mission to enhance renewable energy and energy storage rollout. Specifically, it’s recommended that future European and national legislation should: ● Prioritise long-duration electricity storage and recognise the full range of services it provides to the grid.
● Streamline permitting and regulatory processes. ● Introduce financial instruments to de-risk investment. The letter was signed by Malcolm Turnbull, President of the International Hydropower Association, along with leaders of the European hydropower sector, including: ● Global Renewables Alliance, ● EDF Hydro, ● ANDRITZ HYDRO, ● GE Vernova, ● Landsvirkjun, ● ENEL, ● Voith Hydro, ● HYDROGRID, ● Long Duration Energy Council, ● Iberdrola Energía, ● VERBUND Hydropower, ● Eurelectric, ● Statkraft. The above signatories say the sector is ready, with more than 35GW of new projects already in development across the European Union. “Europe has shown global leadership before in driving renewable energy. It must now do so again by placing
20 | February/March 2026 |
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pumped storage at the heart of its strategy,” the letter states. “The technology is proven, the pipeline is real, and the opportunity is urgent. We have all the resources we need except for time. Let’s pump it up!”
European action
Heeding this call for action, AFRY has entered into an agreement with Hafslund Kraft AS of Norway to study the possibility of increasing flexibility in the Aurland 3 pumped storage power plant. Aurland 3 is one of the country’s largest pumped
storage power plants with two fixed speed reversible turbines, each with a capacity of 135MW. The scope of the assignment is to significantly
increase the number of starts and stops per year, along with the flexibility in the plant’s operating range. Utilising hydro expertise from Norway, Austria and Switzerland, AFRY says it will investigate possible system concepts and prepare a basis for decision-making regarding the system technology going forward. Marcus Bergman, Sales Manager for Hydro Nordics at AFRY, says the Aurland 3 project is an important step in strengthening the company’s footprint in the Nordic market for pumped storage hydropower, and the company is happy to support Hafslund in this technically challenging project.
Over in Spain, the country’s ministry for ecological transition has launched a US$105m support scheme for innovative pumped storage projects. This new call for proposals is expected to enable the installation of 1GW of capacity, adding around 7GWh of electricity storage to the Spanish power system. It will support the development of new pumped storage hydropower plants, the expansion or modification of existing facilities, the conversion of conventional schemes into pumped storage, and projects using existing reservoirs to increase or improve storage capacity.
Asian activity Over in Asia, Indian hydropower producer SJVN has
invited proposals to develop up to 2GW of storage capacity through pumped storage projects across the country. To developed on a build-own-operate basis proposals should provide eight hours of discharge, including up to five hours of continuous discharge, maintain a maximum conversion loss of 25%, ensure an annual availability of at least 95%, and achieve a minimum round-trip efficiency of 75% for each charging- discharging cycle. The scope of work includes site selection and all studies, statutory approvals, grid connectivity, basic and detailed engineering and design, procurement, construction, commissioning and operation of the project(s) for a minimum of 40 years. The Vietnam Electricity (EVN) Group has also
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