How does pump storage hydroelectricity work?

A pumped-storage plant works much like a conventional hydroelectric station, except the same water can be used over and over again. Water power uses no fuel in the generation of electricity, making for very low operating costs. Duke Energy operates two pumped-storage plants – Jocassee and Bad Creek. read more

A pumped-storage plant has two reservoirs: Upper reservoir - Like a conventional hydropower plant, a dam creates a reservoir. The water in this reservoir flows through the hydropower plant to create electricity. read more

Executive Summary. Pumped hydroelectric storage facilities store energy in the form of water in an upper reservoir, pumped from another reservoir at a lower elevation (Figure 1). During periods of high electricity demand, power is generated by releasing the stored water through turbines in the same manner as a conventional hydropower station. read more

Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is a solution for storing large scale excess solar or wind power which can be used later. read more