Pumped storage is back in style. The same week I spoke with ILI’s Mark Wilson (see interview) I heard energy industry veteran Mike McWilliams talk about a dramatically different pumped storage design, at a lecture given at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

McWilliams’ proposal is for a pumped storage installation with capacity of 1,000MW and storage of 6GWh. It can be standardised because it replies less on geography and topology than regular hydro. Almost all the plant is underground.