The Forum

The International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower is a government-led multi-stakeholder platform to shape and enhance the role of the 'world's water batteries' in future power systems.

Launched in November 2020 by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and chaired by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Forum brings together governments, industry, financial institutions, academia and NGOs to share their experiences and build best practice.  To learn more about pumped storage hydropower (PSH), please click here.

Convening three industry-led working groups, this year-long initiative will develop guidance and recommendations about how sustainable pumped storage hydropower can best support the energy transition. IHA acts as the secretariat to the Forum.

International partnership

The initiative brings together 13 governments – the USA, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Estonia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Morocco, Norway, Sri Lanka and Switzerland - international financial institutions, and over 70 organisations, including leading energy companies such as including EDF, GE Renewable Energy, Voith and Hydro Tasmania.

Participating multilateral development banks include the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Leading research, development and financial organisations who have joined the Forum as founding partners include the Australian National University, University of Cambridge, IHE Delft, SINTEF, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),  the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy, the Energy and Resources Institute of India (TERI) and the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority.

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Forum's steering committee:

Sponsoring partners:

First meeting

The International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower first convened on 3 November 2020.

Find out more and rewatch the Forum's first meeting.

Read the meeting agenda
Download the slides‍
Download the Forum's Terms of Reference

Learn more about the Forum's partners.