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Global pumped storage hydropower (PSH) capacity reached 189 GW in 2024, marking a 8.4 GW increase from 2023. That said, developing new PSH plants from the ground up continues to be a challenge, largely because most projects require a mountainous area with two reservoirs at differing elevations.

To help overcome this barrier, EDF is turning to the sea.

Marine, or seawater PSH, is conceptually the same as a standard PSH plant, but uses the ocean as the lower reservoir and the gravitational potential energy of water. This means only a single upper reservoir needs to be constructed, typically along a coastal cliffside. With renewable energy capacity needing to expand 16.6% annually to meet the global goal to triple installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, innovative approaches will be essential to ensuring variable renewable energy (VRE) such as wind and solar are not curtailed.

EDF’s first planned project is a marine pumped storage station on a French overseas island, the first in France. It will have a capacity of 50 MW and 8 hours of storage, utilising two turbines, and pump water from the ocean during periods of peak solar and wind power production. Landscape studies are still required to assess feasibility. However, if successfully implemented, the plant would help provide clean energy to its inhabitants and would be a major part of the island ongoing energy transition.

Seawater pumped storage provides an effective way to increase long-duration energy storage to support load balancing and reduce curtailment from VREs. The technology guarantees a lifespan of over 60 years and can potentially reduce construction costs, as well as environmental and societal impacts.  Innovative solutions like EDF’s proposed projects offer promising models for the future of pumped storage hydropower and will be critical to achieving global decarbonisation goals.