Prospects and opportunities for the development of more pumped storage in Ukraine

The global transition towards carbon-free electricity generation has led to a massive expansion of wind and solar powerplants. This rapid growth poses an operational challenge for transmission grid operators worldwide: managing the high volatility and inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources. Within the United Energy System of Ukraine and the Continental European ENTSO-E grid with which Ukraine is synchronized, the demand for highly flexible, rapid-response maneuvering capacity has reached unprecedented levels. This paper explores the potential for future pumped storage in Ukraine, and the role it will play in increasing grid manoeuvring capabilities