Paris Pledge launches to accelerate pumped storage hydro in Europe

The Paris Pledge has been launched by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and Eurelectric to unlock the potential of pumped storage hydropower for Europe’s energy transition.

The Paris Pledge is intended as a collective commitment from the hydropower sector to provide the necessary long duration electricity storage to support sustainable, clean industrial growth and deliver the European Green Deal.

Developed in close collaboration with senior representatives from across the European utilities and hydropower value chain, the Pledge also urges EU and national policymakers to create the right conditions for long duration storage to meet Europe’s clean energy goals.

Malcolm Turnbull, President of the IHA, comments: “The Paris Pledge unites the sustainable hydropower industry around one clear objective: to provide the storage backbone for a renewable-powered Europe. By scaling up pumped storage, we can accelerate the energy transition, create jobs and deliver on Europe’s climate and security goals.”

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Kristian Ruby, Secretary General of Eurelectric, describes the Paris Pledge as a timely and necessary call to action, adding: “As we scale up wind and solar at unprecedented speed, we must invest in long duration storage solutions that keep the system reliable, affordable, and resilient. Pumped storage hydropower is indispensable here.”

Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is considered to provide a proven, scalable and cost-effective solution for long duration storage, providing over 90% of electricity storage volume globally.

Currently, over 32GW of new PSH is recorded in development in Europe, along with an additional 3GW in Switzerland, Norway and Turkey. Together these projects would provide storage capacity in excess of 700GWh.

The Pledge, to which over 50 utilities, hydropower suppliers and energy focused associations have already signed, commits the collective implementation of the following actions:

1. Invest the resources required to develop and expand the pipeline of potential new PSH projects.
2. Reinforce the European supply chain capacity to support the deployment of new PSH projects.
3. Hire, train, and empower the new workforce generation, closing existing age and gender gaps and securing the transfer of key strategic knowledge.
4. Implement the best-in-class technologies, creating a PSH fleet that will be equipped to respond to the future flexibility needs of the electricity system.
5. Monitor, quantify and mitigate eventual environmental impact, adopting best-in-class solutions and tools.
6. Provide evidence-based and transparent information around storage and renewable energies.
7. Involve local communities and policy makers in project development from an early stage.

Regulatory support requested at the EU level includes a dedicated initiative to boost the rollout of electricity storage and legislative proposals that address long duration storage separately from short duration storage and other energy storage solutions.

At the national level, there should be remuneration for the provision of system services and security of supply for all time frames and the elimination of double grid fees on electricity storage technologies to enhance the economic viability.

There should also be fast-streamed permitting processes for PSH development.

In-person signatories represent the following companies: EDP, EDF, Iberdrola, Andritz, Enel, Statkraft, Voith, Hydrogrid, Verbund AG, Landsvirkjun and GE Vernova.