The impact of pumped-storage plants on the European power system

The European power system is undergoing fundamental changes throughout the region. The main driver is the growth in renewable energies, which fundamentally change the generation structure and load flows in the transmission grid. The second driver which affects the power system as a whole is the fact that investment decisions for new flexible thermal powerplants are constantly postponed because of decreasing prices at the power exchange. Along with impacts on the power market, both effects result in higher stress on the transmission grid as a result of the increasing distance between load and generation. This effect is intensified in Germany by the decision to phase out nuclear plants. This paper discusses the role pumped storage can play in mitigating the situation.