- Paris Pledge for pumped storage hydropower demands EU action, including legislative frameworks and initiatives to expand long-duration storage.
- Paris Pledge for pumped storage hydropower urges national governments to streamline permits, remove double grid fees, and ensure supply security.
Paris Pledge for pumped storage hydropower has been launched by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and Eurelectric, aiming to accelerate deployment across Europe. The joint initiative highlights the urgent need for long-duration electricity storage to balance rising shares of renewable energy.
More than 50 utilities, hydropower suppliers, and energy associations have already signed the pledge. It was developed with 11 senior representatives from leading utilities and the wider hydropower value chain.
By 2050, around 86% of Europe’s generation capacity will come from variable renewable sources such as wind and solar. Therefore, long-duration storage is essential to manage fluctuations, stabilise markets, and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports.
Pumped storage hydropower provides a proven solution by storing surplus renewable energy and releasing it during peak demand.
Malcolm Turnbull, President of the IHA, emphasised: “The Paris Pledge unites the hydropower sector around one clear goal: delivering storage as the backbone of a renewable-powered Europe.” He added that scaling up PSH would accelerate the energy transition, create jobs, and strengthen climate security.
Kristian Ruby, Secretary General of Eurelectric, explained that as Europe expands wind and solar at record pace, reliable storage is critical. He described pumped storage hydropower as indispensable, calling the pledge both “timely and necessary.”
Currently, nearly 35GW of PSH projects sit in the EU pipeline. To unlock them, the pledge calls for EU and national governments to implement supportive reforms.
With political will, the IHA and Eurelectric believe Europe could double pumped storage hydropower capacity within 25 years. This would safeguard energy security, deliver climate targets, and support the European Green Deal.