China leading the way in pumped storage hydropower

China's installed capacity of pumped storage hydropower, or PSH, reached 50.94 million kilowatts by the end of 2023, the highest total globally, said the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute on Friday.

Approved PSH projects awaiting construction reached a scale of 179 million kW by the end of last year, the institute said.

A PSH project consists of two water reservoirs at different elevations that can store or generate power as water moves from one to the other, passing through a turbine. It plays an important role in adjusting power load on the grid, as an increasing share of intermittent new energy sources are used for power generation, experts said.

Experts highlight that PSH, a well-established power storage technology with economic benefits and significant potential for large-scale development, has made notable progress in China during the past year. Advances include improvements in development scale, operational management, engineering technology, and new development models.

Zhao Zenghai, deputy head of CREEI, said 49 new PSH stations were approved for construction nationwide last year, with a total capacity of 63.4 million kW. New operational projects totaled 5.15 million kW in capacity last year, bringing the total operational capacity to 50.94 million kW.

"PSH is expected to continue growing steadily. This year, the installed capacity is anticipated to reach 57 million kW. Looking ahead, the industry will focus on demand-driven development, enhancing project layouts, steadily advancing electricity price reforms, and improving industry chain coordination to drive high-quality development," he said.