Is Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Right for Vietnam?

Abstract

The ability of pumped storage hydroelectric power (PSP) to supply large amounts of electricity at a moment’s notice provides a strong complement to the natural variability of wind and solar generation, potentially easing the integration of renewables into Vietnam’s burgeoning power system. But the availability of relatively inexpensive off-peak generation for pumping is a central part of the economics of PSP. In today’s Vietnam, cheap off-peak power may be hard to come by.