Energy Digital October 2026 | Page 119

WHAT IS PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER?
all the equipment necessary for modern hydropower systems without the need for transatlantic shipping. The pump turbines and motor generators have been engineered at GE Vernova’ s‘ Centers of Excellence’ in France and Switzerland, while the starting drives and protection systems will come from the firm’ s sites in Germany and Spain. This is only part of a wider programme, with First Hydro intending to replace key components across all six generating units at Dinorwig over time.
Pumped storage hydropower plants are essentially huge batteries, capable of storing vast amounts of energy. The science behind these systems is surprisingly straightforward, relying simply on gravity and water.
A pumped storage hydro installation uses two reservoirs at different heights. When there is a surplus of cheap energy, water is pumped up to the top reservoir from the bottom reservoir. Then, when the grid needs power, the water is released, flowing through turbines to create electricity.
Pumped storage is considered an excellent way of storing renewable energy because it allows clean electricity to be generated even when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing. Because of the physics involved in the process, these sites work best when they are located in mountainous regions. WATCH NOW
Why is pumped storage hydropower important?
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