A Comparison on Development of Pumped Storage Hydropower in Europe and Asia. An Analytical Case Study based on Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Projects developed in Europe and Asia in period 2010-2017

Abstract

"Energy consumption in European countries is increasing in significant amount each year. EU countries are becoming more concerned towards environmental safeguarding along with energy production. Wind and solar power have increased their market in many power systems in the recent decades and the main limitation is that they are greatly time dependent and are not available all the time to cope with variable energy demand. This limitation has led to the concept of a bulk energy storage system-Pumped Storage Hydropower.

Asia holds the largest share of global installed hydropower capacity of 611,063 MW and Europe has total installed hydropower capacity of 218,404 MW. Similarly, the PSH installed capacity of Asia is 67,850 MW and Europe is 50,949 MW. The characteristics of pumped storage hydropower commissioned in the present decade 2010-2017 in Europe and Asia have been compared based on annual addition of PSH capacity in grids, unit cost of construction, mode of use of PSH plants and ownership of PSHs,. Furthermore, the policies undertaken by countries in Europe and Asia are discussed and recommendations for PSH development are made. The results show that there are some measurable differences in development of PSH in Europe and Asia which includes differences in use cases, ownership and policies undertaken for PSH development."