Pump it up! Powering a decarbonised world

Paris, September 9-10 2025

In November 2020 the International Hydropower Association (IHA) and the U.S. Department of Energy launched the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower. This year-long initiative developed guidance and recommendations on sustainable pumped storage hydropower’s support to the energy transition. The Forum brought together governments, industry, financial institutions, academia and NGOs to share their experiences and build best practice.

In 2025, we'll bring you the next International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower, part of a year-long campaign for pumped storage hydropower and a look at how things are progressing. This year, pumped storage hydropower will reach key milestones including:

• an industry-first guide to de-risk investments in pumped storage hydropower
• a guidance note for policymakers seeking to develop pumped storage hydropower
• Global storage target by the Global Renewables Summit
• webinars with industry players like the British Hydropower Association and the National Hydropower Association and the Long Duration Energy Storage Council
• key advocacy moments during Clean Currents, Global Renewables Summit, the Clean Energy Ministerial and COP29

The Forum will culminate in a two-day global forum on pumped storage hydropower in Paris in 2025, bringing world experts and leaders together to discuss the critical role of pumped storage hydropower in the future energy mix and present recommendations for enabling its uptake.

Previous speakers at IHA events include HE Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia; HE Carlos Alvarado Quesada the former President of Costa Rica;COP27 President Alok Sharma; former Prime Ministers Tony Blair, Helen Clark, Malcolm Turnbull; Dr Fatih Birol, International Energy Agency Executive Director; Francesco la Camera, Director General of IRENA; 100s of Ministers, CEOs, and heads of international organisations. As with the previous forum, we are expecting high-level participation from governments, industry and international organisations, while the industry voice will be led by IHA President (and former Australian Prime Minister), Malcolm Turnbull.

Don't miss this pivotal event to shape the future of pumped storage hydropower and contribute to the global energy transition.

Express Your Interest

To stay updated and express your interest in attending the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower, register here.

If you are interested to learn about partnering with us or partnership packages for the Forum in Paris or any of the events listed above, please contact Membership Manager, Iryna Petriashvili at iryna.petriashvili@hydropower.org.