Pump Storage: A Sustainable Investment for the Future

Pumped Storage Hydropower is an efficient and dependable way to store energy. It helps maintain a regular and stable power supply, ensuring that electricity is available even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.

April 07, 2025. By News Bureau

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articles

Pump storage

Sustainable Investment

Udit Garg

Kundan Green Energy

Wind and Solar Power

Pumped Storage Hydropower

Energy storage system

Renewable energy

Switching to clean energy is our only hope to fight rising global temperatures, but it’s not just limited to generating power from the sun and wind—we also need to store the energy generated for when it’s needed. Wind and solar power are great, but they don’t produce electricity consistently, which is a significant limitation. Without reliable storage, we can’t fully depend on them. As fossil fuel plants shut down, the demand for large-scale energy storage is growing rapidly to keep our power grids stable and efficient.

Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) can fix the problem. PSH functions as a giant battery-like energy storage system. By pumping water from a lower reservoir to a higher one, it stores extra electricity. When there is a strong energy demand, the water that has been stored is released and flows through turbines to produce electricity. This movement reduces the need for coal, gas, or diesel power and helps maintain a consistent power supply. PSH is a dependable and affordable choice for the future because it can store energy for a substantially longer time than batteries.

Apart from being a reliable source of renewable energy, PSH has several other advantages:

Long Lifespan and Low Cost
PSH systems can last for 50 to 100 years or more, whereas batteries wear out considerably more quickly and require frequent replacement. Once installed, a PSH system is simple to maintain and inexpensive to operate because the same water may be used repeatedly. This makes it a dependable and cost-effective option to meet our increasing electricity demand.

Scalability and Adaptability:
PSH systems can be installed to meet varying energy needs and are adaptable to various terrains. This adaptability makes PSH an extremely efficient alternative for storing renewable energy in many locations around the world.

Supports Green Hydrogen Production
Green hydrogen is a clean alternative to fossil fuels that can be used in transportation, petrochemical refining, decarbonising aviation, marine transport and more. However, generating it requires a significant amount of energy. PSH can contribute by storing excess electricity allowing green hydrogen to be generated at a low cost and with high efficiency.

Environmentally Friendly
Unlike other hydropower projects that affect rivers and natural habitats, PSH can be developed with minimum environmental impact. Closed-loop PSH systems reuse the same water without affecting natural water bodies. This makes PSH a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to store energy.

Conclusion
PSH is an efficient and dependable way to store energy. It helps maintain a regular and stable power supply, ensuring that electricity is available even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. PSH is inexpensive, lasts for decades, and is simple to maintain because it recycles water. It may be implemented in a variety of sites, including hills and abandoned mines, making it an adaptable alternative for renewable energy storage.

India has tremendous potential for PSH because of its big dams and suitable geographical settings. The government is also promoting its expansion through measures that facilitate development. By investing in PSH, India can strengthen its energy infrastructure, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and transition to a cleaner, greener future.

- Udit Garg, Managing Director & CEO, Kundan Green Energy