Pumped Storage Hydropower in the United States: Emerging Importance, Environmental and Social Impacts, and Critical Considerations

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(2)

Published: March 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Pumped storage hydropower is a widely used, long‐duration energy system that sits squarely at the water‐energy nexus. Bold decarbonization goals have propelled rapid resurgence of interest in pumped US, given its ability to provide bulk storage, manage grid reliability, and support increasing integration variable renewable sources. Drawing on published research from both technical social science perspectives, this paper provides an overview technology, project development pipeline, potential environmental impacts, including comparison open‐loop closed‐loop design configurations, critical considerations for development. In contrast all existing projects US are located natural water bodies, review finds over 80% proposed designs, due their siting flexibility away bodies purportedly lower impacts. However, issues around projects, concerns permitting consultation processes conflicts siting, resources, Indigenous lands, emerging more frequently planned expansion arid West near Tribal lands. These not necessarily lowered by technology. The early stage offers opportunity include community input minimize tradeoffs. turn, will require taking look each as well understanding perceptions lifecycle impacts

Language: Английский

Resilient riverine social–ecological systems: A new paradigm to meet global conservation targets

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(6)

Published: July 29, 2024

Abstract The United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity set forth the 30 × target, an agenda for countries to protect at least 30% of their terrestrial, inland water, and coastal marine areas by 2030. With <6 years reach that goal, riverine conservation professionals are faced with difficult decision prioritizing which rivers or river segments should be conserved (protected and/or restored). While incorporating resilience into planning is essential enhancing, restoring, maintaining vital ecosystem services (ES) most threatened climate change other environmental human stresses, this paradigm odds traditional approaches either opportunistic reactionary, where only unique highly visible ecosystems have been prioritized. Barriers implementing resilience‐based include: (1) difficulties in conceptualizing quantifying resilience; (2) insufficient consideration social components systems; (3) inapplicability terrestrial‐only models aquatic (4) ad hoc approach conservation. To overcome these barriers, we propose a framework includes: assessing using indicator frameworks; considering as dynamically coupled social–ecological explicitly terrestrial–aquatic network connectivity decision‐making; strategic systems novel resilience–conservation matrix tool. This has potential transform practices around globe more effectively enhance development. article categorized under: Water Life > Conservation, Management, Awareness Science Environmental Change Human Governance

Language: Английский