Pumped storage |
weather forecasts – say, an unexpected downpour – and adjust the operational plan accordingly. “If your reservoir is near full and it suddenly rains, the
system might suggest switching from generation to pumping,” she says. “It checks every hour whether the current plan is still optimal and recommends changes if not.”
Second, in maintenance planning, the platform can model multiple scheduling options – such as two weeks of work sometime between July and September – and show the revenue loss for each. “It would tell you within about 60 seconds what your options are: If you do this 3-day maintenance in the second week of August, you lose $250,000. If instead you do it over the first weekend in September, you only lose $90,000 in revenue,” says Goodenough. “Then you can decide if it’s worth the extra effort of weekend labour.”
Markets in transition HYDROGRID sees growth potential for pumped
storage in both developing and developed markets. “In emerging economies, we’re seeing a lot of new build,” says Goodenough. “But in liberalised, mature markets, there’s huge potential to upgrade existing plants.” That might mean turning a conventional storage plant
into a pumped storage facility – replacing or retrofitting turbines, often without major new construction. She also points to growing negative electricity prices
in places like the Nordics and the US. “That’s a clear signal from the market,” she says. “If you had pumped storage, you could support the grid and profit at the same time.” With HYDROGRID’s investment simulation tool,
operators can model such opportunities before committing.
Pumped storage and batteries: better
Below: HYDROGRID pumped storage optimisation module
together The surge in pumped storage could be a complement to battery storage, Goodenough discussed during the interview. “There’s no contradiction between batteries and pumped storage,” she explains. “Even under the most optimistic estimates, batteries offer storage on the scale of a few hours. Maybe three to six hours at full
capacity. But that’s not enough to even cover a single day-night cycle – let alone longer periods of low wind or solar output.” This is where pumped storage steps in. With much longer duration and far greater storage volume per MW capacity, it’s uniquely suited to handling those gaps. “Even with the most optimistic battery projections, pumped storage hydropower will still be about 10 times the size of battery storage in terms of storage volume long past 2030,” she says. “We need both technologies – and more of them – in every scenario.” Goodenough also highlights the emerging interest in co-locating batteries with hydro plants. “There’s a fascinating opportunity in what we call hybrid hydro,” she explains, “which means adding battery storage to a conventional hydropower plant to create a kind of virtual mini-pumped storage.” Especially for run-of-river plants with no storage of their own, this opens new commercial possibilities. “You can use a battery in place of a physical reservoir,” she says. “This allows plant owners to participate in short-term markets, optimise production, and reduce imbalance and grid penalties.” HYDROGRID already has this functionality on its
roadmap for 2026. But, Goodenough adds, “Let’s be clear: we’re talking about micro storage. A few hours at most. It’s great for certain use cases, but it can’t replace medium or long-duration pumped storage.”
The road ahead So, what’s next? For HYDROGRID, one milestone will be
the IHA’s Pumped Storage Forum in Paris this September. Goodenough will be speaking and delivering the Pumped Storage Pledge to European policymakers. “This is about shaping markets to enable the private investment we need for the energy transition,” she says. Beyond that, HYDROGRID will keep evolving its
platform – gradually, steadily, and purposefully. “Our client base already includes every hydro configuration, across every climate and market,” says Goodenough. “From run-of-river to pumped storage. From 1MW to over 500MW.” And the goal remains clear: practical, high-impact
improvements that help the sector rise to the challenge of the transition. “This industry doesn’t need revolution,” she says. “It needs evolution – 5 to 10% improvement every year for the next 15 years. That’s how we’ll fulfil hydropower’s full potential.”
A passion worth pursuing For Goodenough, the work is both personal and
profound. “Anyone who’s visited a pumped storage plant
and stood beneath a generator knows the beauty of this engineering,” she says. “To deliver software that supports that – that brings me and the entire team at HYDROGRID real joy.” Ultimately, she believes hydropower professionals
share a common purpose. “You’d be hard-pressed to find a more impactful industry to work in,” she says. “Hydropower delivers clean, flexible, reliable energy. And we’re proud to be part of making it even better.”
Look out for a discussion on pumped storage and battery storage working together in a later edition of International Water Power & Dam Construction
8 | July 2025 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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