From the Editor’s Desk |
reclaims the spotlight
T 4 | July 2025 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
his special edition of International Water Power & Dam Construction places a timely and focused lens on pumped storage – a technology long embedded in the hydropower toolkit, but now re-emerging as a strategic enabler
in the global clean energy transition. As the integration of variable renewable energy
sources accelerates worldwide, pumped storage is moving back into the center of grid planning discussions, not only for its ability to deliver large- scale, long-duration energy storage, but also for its operational flexibility and capacity to deliver grid stability services. In short, the characteristics the power sector needs most today. Several major pumped storage projects under development underscore this resurgence. In Australia, Snowy 2.0, a 2GW / 350,000 MWh expansion of the iconic Snowy Scheme, is progressing, despite challenging tunnelling conditions that have tested both the project timeline and technical teams; and Kidston has hit major construction milestones, progressing well to completion. Last year, China completed the Fengning Pumped Storage Power Station in Hebei province, now the largest facility of its kind globally. The plant, which has a total installed capacity of 3.6GW, is operated by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC). The final turbine unit was activated on August 11, 2024, marking the end of construction that began in June 2013. Meanwhile, in Europe, the UK has re-entered the pumped storage conversation, with new projects proposed in Scotland such as Coire Glas (1.5GW), which secured an investment commitment in 2023
Pumped storage
and is being positioned as a national asset in the country’s net-zero strategy. This issue features data on the world’s pumped
storage installations, presented as a dataset of operational, under-construction, and proposed schemes worldwide. The tabular data includes plant capacity, number of turbines, commissioning status, owner information, and geographical context – a reference designed to serve industry professionals, researchers, and planners alike. As the sector responds to evolving market structures, policy frameworks, and environmental requirements, it’s clear that pumped storage remains not only technically viable, but increasingly essential. However, realising its full potential depends on regulatory recognition of its multifaceted value, not just as energy storage, but as inertia provider, reserve capacity, and peak-shaving mechanism. Pumped storage is no longer on the sidelines. It is actively shaping modern grid architecture and deserves continued investment, innovation, and policy support. This issue highlights the projects, the players, and the data shaping that future.
Carrieann Stocks
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