Participation of the TerraWater Institute to the International Pump Storage Forum
Developing the tools and relationships to support this piece of the future grid was the objective of the TerraWater institute’ participation to this unique forum.
It is as key as it is little known :
- because the penetration of intermittent renewables, power electronics and fast escalating demand is disturbing and challenging the architecture of our historical grids (based on centralised baseload power generation), PSH is already critical everywhere it is available.because developing PSH is an absolute necessity and the challenges PSH projects come with need to be addressed as what they are: great but not prohibitive.
PSH sport unique assets
- mid and long term storage
- services to the grid that are less and less ancillary and more and more central
- flexibility
- black start provision
- very long term profitability
- very limited environmental footprint
These are all services batteries, though cheap and soon cheaper, cannot and will never provide.
The challenges are of a wide and diverse range and require to be identified and addressed. Swiftly, collectively and efficiently.
- Unfit market design mechanisms based on very short term transactions and price volatility that neither recognise, nor value, these services, along with knowledgeable responsible investors
- Long lead time due as much to project risk than to permitting
- Difficult local community buy-in fed as much by unfavourable tax regime than by environmental and social concerns
- Necessary regional coordination
- Innovation and new demands reshaping operations