Canada has “tremendous potential for pumped-storage hydropower,” with more than 8,000 GW identified at almost 1,200 sites, according to WaterPower Canada.
WaterPower Canada recently released Technical and Economic Potential Assessment of Pumped Storage Hydropower in Canada, a report prepared by an alliance led by Stantec, in cooperation with the Australian National University (ANU), Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation (CEATI) and Power Advisory (PA).
Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) represents most of global electricity storage, with 165 GW of capacity installed globally as of 2020. The report said this 8,000 GW of potential is located at almost 1,200 different site locations, with most potential locations in British Columbia, followed by Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
WaterPower Canada is the Canadian trade association for the hydroelectricity industry, representing almost 85 GW of renewable electricity generation. In response to the Canadian federal government’s commitment to achieving a net-zero emissions electricity supply by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050, WaterPower Canada commissioned this research project on PSH in Canada.
This study alliance set out to address the overarching objective of the work: To assist WaterPower Canada and the industry to better understand the strategic value of PSH, along with identification of the viable potential for sites where PSH facilities might be considered in the future or are currently under development.
The study’s major findings are:
- PSH is a mature technology. Sites with higher hydraulic head are generally more attractive because of their energy density, and availability of water is a prerequisite. The technological and environmental aspects of PSH development are well-refined.
- Machinery can be configured using reversible pump-turbines, ternary or quaternary arrangements, each having their own advantages, but costs favor the pump-turbine configuration. The determination of equipment configuration is based on the optimization of the needs of the power system and market opportunities.
- Sites could use existing reservoirs or natural water bodies. Off-river, closed-loop systems offer advantages in environmental impact and operational independence, and consequently those locations were prioritized in this report. These are the only reported sites under active development in Canada and have been highlighted for their niche potential in this report.
- The characteristic of PSH to be able to respond quickly to load changes or the variability of non-dispatchable renewable generation such as wind and solar power underscore PSH’s role as stabilizing backbone of power grids, especially as non-dispatchable renewable energy penetration is increasing.
- Canada is in need of urgent action to develop PSH if a 100% renewable energy generation mix is to be attained by 2035 or even 2050.
- The theoretical potential for PSH in Canada is for all practical purpose inexhaustible, with over 100,000 identified sites and over 200,000 GW of capacity possible. This potential is distributed unequally throughout the country with British Columbia taking by far the largest portion followed by Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. The geographic distribution of this Theoretical Potential is also well correlated with the wind resource in the country providing the possibility of using this synergy for fully renewable and dispatchable renewable electricity generation.
- The realistic potential amounts to over 8,000 GW installed capacity at almost 1,200 site locations. Among those sites, about 85% are realistic to be developed before 2035, based on the established time constraints for permitting of the PSH and transmission assets, provided that development efforts were to commence today. The realistic potential is unequally distributed with similar countrywide patterns as the theoretical potential: British Columbia in the lead, followed by Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Energy and Natural Resources Canada funded the completion of this report.