The Joint Research Centre (JRC) recently published a methodology based on geographical information systems (GIS) that can be used to assess the potential for transformation of single reservoirs and lakes into pumped hydropower energy storage (PHS) facilities. A workshop on this topic was organised by JRC on the 2nd and 3rd April 2012 in Petten, the Netherlands.

A group of experts in pumped hydropower storage, GIS, environmental, social and spatial planning, and economic aspects of PHS discussed the JRC’s and four other methodologies. The experts subsequently:

• Confirmed the value of the JRC methodology and model for assessment at the country and European levels;
• Identified improvements in the methodology which enhance the scope of the assessment;
• Addressed the issue of data availability in the Member States and their collection;
• Suggested the JRC to apply the methodology to the EU, Norway and Switzerland.

A group photograph of workshop participants can be found below.

During the first session five research activities on the assessment of PHS were presented and discussed. The workshop presentations were:

1. The JRC/UCC pumped storage transformation – site identification methodology. The final report is available here.
2. Locating sites for pumped hydroelectric energy storage, by David Connolly, Aalborg University. The research paper can be found here.
3. Assessing the potential for PHS – the RWE/Fichtner approach.
4. Assessment of the potential of small-pumped hydro energy storage in the South East of France, the UNITe/Hydrowatt approach.
5. Potential sites for new pumped hydropower storage in Thuringia, the HPI Hydroprojekt approach. The study can be accessed here.
6. Introducing costs in the assessment of potential PHS sites.

During the second session the participants divided into four working groups which, in successive rounds with different group composition, debated the following areas:

• Area 1: energy (methodological) aspects: the methodology in general; the topologies chosen; definitions of potentials; categories of users (policy-makers, developers, etc.); assumptions; benefits of a multi-criteria approach; required outputs;
• Area 2: GIS aspects: tools used and other tools available; sources of data; accuracy; implementation of a multi-criteria approach; presenting the outputs; incorporation of costs; requirements of the sensitivity analysis.
• Area 3: environmental, social and spatial planning aspects; environmental aspects of PHS and of transforming to PHS; application of the Water Framework Directive; country strategic impact assessment; permitting process
• Area 4: economic aspects: introducing costs in the model; definition of costs to be included; methods to estimate costs; sources of data.

The workshop synopsis is available here.

The recommendations of the workshop were applied and the JRC assessed the European potential, the corresponding report is available here.