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2025
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China Records Hydropower Boom Amid Power Storage Push
However, this surge in battery capacity pales in comparison to China’s hydropower growth. According to the International Hydropower Association, China accounted for nearly 60% of the 24.6 GW in new global hydropower capacity commissioned in 2023. Of China’s 14.4 GW additions that year, 7.75 GW was pumped storage hydropower (PSH), which is a cost-effective, long-duration storage method that uses reservoirs to store and dispatch electricity by moving water uphill and downhill during off-peak and peak demand. China has been ramping up hydropower construction since announcing its carbon neutrality goal for 2060. As of the end of 2023, it had installed nearly 436 GW of hydropower capacity, more than a third of its combined 1,200 GW in wind and solar capacity, and over 75% of all hydropower capacity in Asia, according to China’s National Energy Administration. A recent IHA report states: “With more than 200 GW of PSH projects under construction or approved, China is on track to exceed its 2030 target of 120 GW, potentially reaching 130 GW by the end of the decade.” The country’s revised Energy Law took effect in January 2025 and encourages the structured development of PSH projects, reinforcing China’s dominant position in global energy storage. PSH Boom Pumped storage hydropower accounts for more than 90% of global long-duration energy storage capacity, making it the leading technology for shifting renewable power over time. China’s Fengning Pumped Storage Power Station—located in Fengning County, Hebei—is the world’s largest PSH facility, with a capacity of 3.6 GW across 12 reversible pump-turbine units. Fully charged, the plant can deliver up to 40 GWh of electricity over 10.8 hours. It supplies roughly 6.61 TWh annually to the grid while consuming 8.71 TWh for pumping—yielding a round-trip efficiency near 76%. Fengning supports a nearby 10 GW hybrid wind and solar installation in Zhangjiakou. In comparison, the world’s largest lithium-ion battery project, the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, in California, has a maximum capacity of 750 MW / 3,000 MWh after its most recent expansion. Operated by Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST), it provides peak support to the grid using surplus solar and wind energy. A Global Trend Other countries are also adopting PSH to back renewable generation. In the Asia-Pacific region, Australia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos are advancing PSH plans through updated regulatory frameworks. Indonesia and Malaysia are exploring hydro-solar hybrid models. Infrastructure projects such as Australia’s HumeLink and Indonesia’s planned Super Grid are designed to integrate more hydropower into national energy mixes. Australia has set a target to reach 82% renewables by 2030, and PSH is a key component. A proposed 1.6 GW project would utilize WaterNSW reservoirs, while another at Glenbawn is planned at 770 MW / 7.7 GWh (10-hour duration), according to ARENA. U.S. Lags Behind In contrast, the U.S. has 21.2 GW of PSH capacity across 43 plants—accounting for about 70% of its total utility-scale energy storage, per the U.S. Department of Energy. While no new large-scale PSH facilities have been completed since the 1990s, interest is rising: the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued 49 preliminary permits for PSH projects since 2017, totaling over 33 GW of proposed capacity (FERC source). Nonetheless, the U.S. faces political and environmental hurdles. Land and water concerns, as well as environmental justice issues, complicate siting new plants. Additionally, the Trump administration has proposed cutting major portions of Inflation Reduction Act funding for renewable energy, while supporting expanded fossil fuel development—potentially undermining new PSH initiatives. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com
Alex Kimani is a veteran finance writer, investor, engineer and researcher for Safehaven.com.
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