WaterPower Canada is pleased to announce the release of its second report this summer: Technical and Economic Potential Assessment of Pumped Storage Hydropower in Canada.
This report was prepared by an alliance led by Stantec, in cooperation with the Australian National University (ANU), the Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation (CEATI) and Power Advisory (PA).
Pumped storage hydropower represents most of global electricity storage, with 165 GW of capacity installed globally as of 2020. Not only does pumped storage hydropower provide large scale, high-capacity storage, but it also affords grid operators with a mechanism for frequency regulation, load following, inertia, reactive power, and black start capabilities. These features are becoming more critical with the integration of variable renewables in our electricity system.
The report identifies tremendous potential for pumped-storage hydropower in Canada, with over 8,000 GW of potential at almost 1,200 different site locations. Most potential locations are in British Columbia, followed by Québec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Given the long-standing and dominant role of conventional hydropower in Canada, pumped storage has historically been of limited interest here. This is changing, with new focus on pumped storage opportunities in Ontario and Alberta.
WaterPower Canada is grateful to Energy and Natural Resources Canada for funding the completion of this report.