Energy Encyclopedia

Energy Storage · 7 min read · Energy Atlas Editorial

Pumped-Storage Hydropower

Two reservoirs and a reversible plant make the largest form of grid electricity storage in many countries.

  • storage
  • hydro

When electricity is cheap, motors pump water uphill. When it is valuable, water generates. Geography needs two basins and a height difference. Round-trip efficiency is high among bulk storage options, though not 100 percent.

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