PUMP IT UP! Review of the IHA International Forum

At the forum organized by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) this week in Paris, we had the honor of presenting Hyvity and the vision we have championed for several years now. It is an entrepreneurial vision calling for industrial collaboration between developers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contractors, and investors, who must join forces today to accelerate project development and, consequently, the energy transition.

Pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) was not merely discussed as a storage solution, but rather as a catalyst that will enable the massive deployment of intermittent renewable energy assets while ensuring grid security—the very core of energy sovereignty.

Furthermore, this issue of energy sovereignty was raised by numerous state representatives in attendance. How can we equip ourselves with tools that ensure long-term resilient grid flexibility without being dependent on chemical battery exports? PSH makes it possible to restore and increase the profitability of existing assets (solar and wind power currently facing headwinds) and unlock new renewable energy capacities over the long term.

However, the consensus among private hydro stakeholders is clear: we cannot wait for the implementation of government support mechanisms to initiate the projects essential to the decarbonization of our economies. The Golden Age of pumped storage has arrived; we must move forward together… public policy will follow!

A huge thank you to the International Hydropower Association (IHA) for organizing this event, and to the HYDROGRID team for their collaboration and the invaluable visibility they provided us throughout these two days.