The relatively high cost of electricity from non-hydropower sources, particularly solar and thermal, has posed significant challenges to industrialization and rural electrification in Ghana. This study assesses the Oti River's small hydropower (SHP) potential to close the knowledge gap and offer accurate information regarding the river's capacity to sustain hydropower generation. Geographic Information System (GIS), Soil and Water Assessment Tool Plus (SWATPlus) were used to simulate the watershed’s hydrological attributes, while RETScreen was employed to carry out a techno-economic assessment of potential SHP sites. Flow Duration Curves (FDC) have been constructed for suitable sites. The final assessment resulted in the identification of ten sites (HP1 – HP10) along the river with potential for hydropower generation. The highest hydropower potential sites were located at HP4, HP1, and HP7, with corresponding firm power of 1359.5 kW, 1162.4 kW, and 875 kW and estimated firm energy of 7.490 GWh, 6.409 GWh, and 4.82 GWh, respectively. Among the ten evaluated sites, HP1, HP3, and HP4 demonstrated the highest economic potential, recording Net Present Values (NPVs) of approximately $95.8 million, $24.5 million, and $62.4 million, respectively. Emissions assessments further emphasized their environmental viability. Overall, the results highlight a strong case for small hydropower (SHP) deployment at these locations, providing regionally relevant insights and reinforcing Ghana’s ambitions in renewable energy expansion.

Efficient water resource management is essential for reducing water stress and user competition in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. This study applied a multi-criteria geospatial framework to evaluate surface water availability, consumption dynamics, and emerging conflict risks within the Ankobra River Basin of Ghana. Terrestrial water storage (TWS), water abstraction, landuse/landcover, soil characteristics, population, and topographic factors were integrated using the GIS-based Analytical Hierarchy Process to identify spatial patterns of water stress and potential conflict hotspots. Results show strong seasonal variability in water availability, with a net deficit of approximately 2.79 billion cubic metres between wet and dry conditions. Industrial activities dominated surface water demand (74.5%), followed by domestic (16.4%) and agriculture (9.1%), with total annual consumption and demand of 68.17 Mm³ and 81.89 Mm³ , respectively. Future projections indicate substantial increases in domestic demand, leading to basin-wide deficits of 15–114 million cubic metres per year by 2063. The study identified upstream sub-basins 8 and 9 as critical vulnerability hotspots where rapid industrial expansion and population growth are intensifying water demand and user competition, with future conflict risks driven predominantly by land-use change, topographic limitations, and declining water availability rather than direct abstraction pressures.

This study assesses flood susceptibility in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, one of West Africa’s most flood-prone areas by employing the Frequency Ratio (FR) model. The analysis integrates a range of environmental and meteorological variables alongside non-meteorological factors in the susceptibility mapping. The model yielded an Area Under the Curve (AUC) score of 0.82, indicating reliable flood susceptibility predictions. Various factors such as elevation, slope, geology, distance from urban, and stream power index significantly influence flood susceptibility. The spatial distribution of baseline susceptibility zones reveals coastal and northeastern areas as highly susceptible. Projections under different Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios depict a dynamic susceptibility landscape, emphasizing shifts in susceptibility levels. Notably, SSP2 and SSP3 foresee an increase in high and very high susceptibility zones. For district and town-level dynamics, districts like Weija Gbawe and towns along the coastline consistently exhibit very high susceptibility. The spatial distribution of building footprints shows a notable concentration within high and very high flood susceptibility zones, highlighting significant exposure risks to both the population and critical infrastructure. For example, over 780,000 and 810,000 building footprints, representing 3.12 million and 3.24 million people, are projected to experience high flood susceptibility under SSP2 and SSP3, respectively. This comprehensive assessment provides critical insights for flood management decisions in cities, emphasizing the importance of considering various factors in understanding and mitigating flood risks in West Africa and globally.

This study presents a novel five-step ensemble machine learning approach to improve predictive accuracy in assessing climate change impacts on inflow patterns and hydropower generation across seven dam basins in West Africa. The methodology integrates precipitation and temperature using the multi-lag approach. An initial pool of fifteen machine learning models were evaluated, and top-performing models were selected for further refinement through iterative ensemble stacking and weak learner elimination. Historical analysis (1983–2014) utilized CHIRPS and CHIRTS datasets. Future projections employed twelve bias-adjusted CMIP6 models and their ensemble mean (EnsMean) under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 for the near (2036–2067) and far (2068–2099) futures. Results showed notable improvements in model accuracy and efficiency across layers, with R² and NSE exceeding 0.6 for all inflow simulations and for selected energy simulations (Bagre, Nangbeto, and Taabo). Projections indicated warming up to 4.5°C and spatially heterogeneous precipitation changes across basins and scenarios, with SSP5-8.5 projecting the most pronounced shifts. Inflow reductions are projected to reach up to 24% at Buyo and 13% at Nangbeto, while hydropower output may decline by up to 19% at Nangbeto and 58% at Taabo in the future. Conversely, Manantali and Taabo are projected to experience inflow increases, and Bagre may see energy gains of up to 42% under SSP5-8.5. These findings highlight heightened vulnerability, as well as contrasting opportunities across the region, underscoring the urgent need for adaptive management strategies, such as enhancing hydropower system resilience, diversifying energy portfolios, and integrating renewable sources to mitigate climate risks. Hydropower managers and policymakers must prioritize proactive measures to ensure energy security and sustainable resource management amid changing climatic conditions.

One of the major challenges facing the energy sectors in practically all developing countries worldwide is clean cooking. In Sierra Leone, only 1% of the population has access to clean cooking, making it one of the worst among the developing countries with clean cooking problems. Many people are switching to improved biomass cookstoves (IBCs), but the unprecedented production of charcoal‑based IBCs and varied designs, particularly ceramic linings, make it difficult for users to choose the right size. The study surveyed major IBC production and sales centres in Sierra Leone’s western regions between 2021 and 2023, examining temperature profiles of the metal stove (MS) and wonder stove (WS). The data showed that an average of 3352 MS and 1833 WS were produced and sold between 2021 to 2023. A water boiling test was adopted for IBCs testing and Testo 310 flue gas analyzer was used to track the temperature profiles of the chosen IBCs. The findings suggest that WS could be able to generate and retain heat more quickly and sustainably than MS. Additionally, the recorded temperatures and timings of all IBCs were also subjected to a systematic correlational analysis. A simulation of the various temperatures and times was also plotted to ascertain the temperature‑time graph differences. These results are relevant and could aid in the analysis of IBC emissions and thermal efficiency. Thus, the results of the study could be utilized to offer policy recommendations for IBC production and sales centres in Sierra Leone and other developing countries.

Small hydropower (SHP) development offers promising sustainable energy solutions, particularly in regions with underutilised water resources. This study evaluates the potential for SHP development in the Tano River Basin (TRB) in Ghana using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and RETScreen. SWAT was used to generate and simulate basin parameters for hydropower analysis, while the RETScreen tool was used for techno-economic and emissions analysis. The power and energy potential for the candidate sites were evaluated using flow and power duration curves. The results demonstrate that the TRB has potential for small hydropower development, with twenty-four sites along the Tano River having a firm energy potential ranging from 4.6 to 46.4 GWh. A detailed analysis of all the twenty-four sites revealed that HP9, HP11 and HP14 were the most promising, with Net Present Values (NPVs) of $178,496,199, $177,857,919 and $175,248,329, respectively. An emissions analysis of these promising potential sites highlighted annual emissions savings averaging 66,382 tons of CO2, equivalent to >140,000 barrels of oil not consumed. These findings underscore the potential for environmentally beneficial and economically viable SHP development, offering valuable insights for similar regional projects and contributing to Ghana's renewable energy and rural electrification efforts.

This study examines how Sierra Leone can transition to low carbon pathways for electricity production, reducing the dependence on fossil oil fuels that contributes to high emissions and volatility in fuel prices. The research utilized a mixed-modelling approach by soft-linking the OSeMOSYS (Open-Source Energy Modelling System) and Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) modelling frameworks to explore four energy scenarios: Business as usual (BAU), High Import (H_Imp), Net Zero (NZ) and High Demand (HD). Results demonstrated the important role of hydro, imports, and to a lesser extent solar technologies in transitioning to achieve net zero goals by 2050 especially in the net zero scenario, but yielding a USD 482 million increase over the BAU approach, albeit with heavy fossil oil and natural gas switching around 2040 in the BAU. Less liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity is invested in the NZ and replaced by imports, leading to emissions rates tending towards net zero from 2040. The large investment required in the net zero scenario is indicative of financing mechanisms external to national budgets. Policy recommendations include long-term strategy for renewables in line with fossil oils phasing out plans, update and realign government's renewable targets, and setting up an effective regulatory framework that grants grid operational access as well as incentives for private investment in renewables. These strategies are necessary to reduce the overall fossil fuel oil use in electricity production in Sierra Leone whilst achieving reduction in greenhouse emissions, thus aligning with global climate goals and national sustainable energy objectives.

This study investigates the impact of fossil fuel industry on renewable energy deployment in emerging oil-producing economies, using Ghana as the subject of analysis. Drawing on the “theory of lobby,” the study extends previous analyses to examine how fossil fuel production influences the possibility of transitioning to renewable energy. The results, based on a stepwise estimation technique, within a two-regime Markov-switching Model, show a consistent negative relationship between fossil fuel production and renewable energy deployment, supporting the lobby effect theory in Ghana’s energy economy. Notably, while fossil fuel production initially increases the probability of transitioning to renewable energy (from 39.65% to 58.42%), this trend is reversed by foreign direct investment, reducing the likelihood to approximately 42%. These findings underscore the need to expand the lobby-effect theory to include indirect economic influences, such as investment patterns and structural dependencies, that enable fossil fuel dominance. Through its focus on Ghana, this study contributes fresh insights into the energy transition dynamics of emerging economies, offering a broader and more inclusive perspective to the energy transition literature.

The study draws key energy policy lessons by assessing and comparing the energy security performance of Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ghana. The Energy Security Index with application to West Africa is created from eight dimensions and 24 indicators using a simple additive method and non-statistical induced weights. Study results show that the main energy security challenges in West Africa are low public investment in energy infrastructure (including renewable energy), high energy prices, low electricity access, high energy system inefficiencies, armed attacks on energy infrastructure and deteriorating energy sector governance. The study recommends prioritising investment in electricity sector infrastructure in West Africa.

This study investigates the impact of climate change and variability on reservoir inflow and hydropower generation at three key hydropower plants in Côte d'Ivoire including Buyo, Kossou, and Taboo. To simulate inflow to reservoir and energy generation, the Random Forest (RF), a machine-learning algorithm allowing fewer input variables was applied. In three-step, RF k-fold cross validation (with k=5) was used; (i) 12 and 6 multiple lags of precipitation and temperature at monthly increments were used as predictors, respectively; (ii) the five most important variables were used in addition to the current month's precipitation and temperature; and (iii) a residual RF was built. The bias-adjusted ensemble mean of eleven climate models output of the COordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment was used for the representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The model output was highly correlated with the observations, with Pearson correlations >0.90 for inflow and >0.85 for energy for the three hydropower plants. The temperature in the selected sub-catchments may increase significantly from 0.9 to 3°C in the near (2040–2069) and from 1.7 to 4.2°C in far (2070–2099) future periods relative to the reference period (1981–2010). A time series of precipitation showed a change in range -7 and 15% in the near and -8 to 20% in the far future and more years are with increasing change. Depending on the sub-catchment, the magnitude of temperature and precipitation changes will increase as greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)(greater in RCP8.5 than RCP4.5) rise. At all time scales (monthly, seasonal, and annual), the simulated inflow and energy changes were related to climate variables such as temperature and precipitation. At the annual time scale, the inflow is projected to change between -10 and 37% and variability may depend on the reservoir. However, the energy change is promised to change between -10 and 25%, -30 to 15%, and 5 to 40% relative to the historical (1981-2010) period for Taabo, Kossou, and Buyo dams, respectively at an annual scale. The changes may vary according to the year, the RCPs, and the dam. Consequently, decision-makers are recommended to take into consideration an energy mix plan to meet the energy demand in these seasons.

This study focused on identifying potential locations for the implementation of Small Hydropower Systems to enhance the existing energy infrastructure in the Pumpum River Basin (PRB). Utilizing remote sensing and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, basin parameters were generated and simulated for hydropower analysis. The energy potential of suitable sites was assessed through flow duration curves and power duration curves. The findings reveal that the PRB exhibits potential for small hydropower development, identifying nine sites along the river. The results of the model indicate power capacities of 1,521 kW for the Run of River and 2,290 kW for the dam sites respectively. The most promising hydropower sites were identified as dam site 1, river of run site 1, and dam site 6 with corresponding firm power of 2356.2 kW, 1567 kW and 264 kW, resulting in estimated firm energy production of 12.07 GWh, 8.03 GWh, and 1.35 GWh, respectively. Considering the suitable spacing of more than between 12 km among dam site 1, river of run site 1, and dam site 6 and a combined annual energy production of 21.65 GWh, a recommended approach involves establishing a cascade hydropower arrangement at sites dam site 1, river of run site 1, and dam site 6 along the Pumpum River. With a plant capacity of 65% to 90% dependability range, incorporating an installed Francis turbine, the total annual firm energy that can be produced from the nine (9) (Run of river and dam) projected sites ranges between 0.69 and 12.07 GWh.

Flooding, exacerbated by the challenges of climate change, poses a growing threat to communities in the Upper West Region (UWR) of Ghana. This persistent issue, particularly during the rainy seasons has subjected the region to several losses of properties and lives over the years. This has spurred the need for a comprehensive delineation of flood risk terrains (FRTs) and analysis of the rainfall patterns in the region. This study, therefore, started by analysing a digital elevation model (SRTM—DEM) using Jenks Natural Breaks Classification (JNBC) algorithm to delineate potential FRTs map within the region. Further, analysis was performed using Analytical Hierarchy Process Multi-Criteria Decision (AHP-MCD) with the incorporation of six spatial factors (Lineament Density, Elevation, Topographic Wetness Index, Drainage Density, Slope, and Aspect) to generate a comprehensive FRTs map. Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) from 1992 to 2022 were also visualized in a Jupyter Notebook to assess rainfall patterns in the UWR. Historical flood events data were also analysed to understand the trends of flood events impacts. From the findings, both the JNBC and AHP-MCD algorithms categorized the UWR’s total area into five classes, namely; very high, high, moderate, low, and very low FRTs. The JNBC map had area coverages of 4

This study provides a critical assessment of future climate scenarios in the White Volta Basin (WVB), an area heavily reliant on groundwater resources. With monthly model results for two Shared Socioeconomic Pathway Scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and 5-8.5), seven (7) Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models with spatial resolution ranging from 1.125 degrees x 2.8 degrees were assessed. The study also considered, three 30 -year time intervals, 1971-2013 for the Baseline (historical) climate, the 2020s (2020-2040) 2050s (2041-2070), and the 2080s (2071-2075) for the future climate scenarios. The Climate Change for Watershed Modeling (CMhyd) software was used for bias correction of these models, with observational data sourced from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction's Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (NCEP CFSR) and 12 gridded climate stations. The bias -corrected models validated using R 2 , NSE, RMSE, PBIAS, and additional metrics, demonstrated good calibration results compared to observed data. Precipitation ensembles showed 97-99% R2, 94-99% NSE, 70-485 mm RMSE, and -9-5% PBIAS. Maximum and minimum bias corrected temperatures performance varied from 95 to 99% R2, 92-99% NSE, 0.01-0.07 RMSE, and 0.01-0.23 PBIAS, Overall, precipitation levels are expected to decline for SSP2-4.5, while under SSP5-8.5 are expected to increase until the 2080s across all scenarios in comparison to the baseline period. Maximum temperature will be considerably high under SSP5-8.5, with an estimated increase of around 4.3 degrees C/year in comparison to the reference period. The monthly average variation in the maximum temperature ranges from 0.62 to 2.43 0 Cunder the SSP5-8.5 scenario. These findings reveal the potential impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity, groundwater recharge, and crucial information for the development of Ghana's National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Thus, emphasizing the need for comprehensive adaptation strategies to mitigate the climate change impact on water resources and ecosystem services.

Monitoring the nutrient levels of the dam water on the Bui hydropower project (Ghana) is vital for understanding its ecological health. The purpose of this study is to evaluate current (2021) nutrient levels and examine the irrigational water quality. The novelty of this research lies in the combination of nutrient analysis and irrigational water quality index (IWQI) as tool to understand the ecological health of the dam water. Bui dam water is slightly acidic (pH of 6.6) which partly influences nutrient bioavailability in the dam water. The composition of water in terms of ion dominance follow the order of Ca2+>Na+>Mg2+>K+ and that of anions followed the order of HCO3->Cl->SO42->NO3-, with signatures of Ca2+- Mg2+- HCO3– water type. Pearson's correlation plot shows pH, TDS, and EC influences sulphate distribution in the dam. EC mean level of 78.06 µS/cm is below acceptable ranges (150 and 500 µS/cm) known to sustain freshwater fish species (e.g., Alestidae, Anabantidae and Bagridae family) present in the Bui dam. Historical nitrate, phosphate and sulphate measured 2.01mgL-1, 0.16mgL-1 and 20.96mgL-1 as against 0.79mgL-1, 0.60mgL-1 and 2.22mgL-1 caused by the impoundment. The nutrient decrease shows improved water quality over time. The spatial plot shows low phosphate levels in the northwestern and southeastern part of the dam indicating rapid uptake and sediment trapping. IWQI shows the water has no toxicity risk for any plant. This study provides a basis for further monitoring to ensure the observed nutrient decrease is not altered by human-induced activities. Strengthening management policies is therefore encouraged to sustain the dam's ecological health.

Sulfate (SO42-) is an essential anion in drinking water and a vital macronutrient for plant growth. However, elevated sulfate levels can impact ecosystem or human health and could be an important indicator of acid rock drainage or pollution. Therefore, monitoring SO42- sources and transport is important for water quality assessments. This study focused on exploring the sources and transformations of SO42- as well as estimating the proportional contribution of the potential SO42- pollutant sources to groundwater and surface water in a tropical river basin, the Densu River Basin. The study used major ions combined with stable sulfur and oxygen isotope compositions and a Bayesian isotope mixing model, MixSIAR. The major ion characteristics indicate that SO42- concentrations remain stable throughout the rainy and dry seasons but originate from diverse sources. The multiisotope model (delta S-34(SO4), (SOSO4)-O-18) identified four potential SO42- sources: detergent, precipitation, sewage, and sulfate fertilizer. However, the delta S-34(SO) and (SOSO4)-O-18 values of the fertilizer source signatures overlapped with those of precipitation and sewage. Nevertheless, the contributions from each source were disentangled using the MixSIAR model, which revealed sewage as the most dominant SO42- pollutant in the Densu Basin, accounting for similar to 47 % of sulfate in groundwater and similar to 56 % of sulfate in surface water. Sulfate fertilizer (similar to 33 %) was the second most important source after sewage for groundwater, while detergent (similar to 23 %) was the second most important source for surface water. The redox processes of bacterial sulfate reduction and sulfide oxidation were determined to have a minimal impact on the sulfur isotope fractionation within the basin. This study highlights the benefits of combining major ions, sulfur isotopes and the MixSIAR model for identifying sources of sulfate. This approach accounts for uncertainties in source contributions which allows for more robust and reliable apportionment of sulfate sources. The study emphasizes the need for effective waste management and pollution control measures to protect water quality and provides vital guidelines on how to partition sulfate sources on a large catchment scale and evidence for making pollution management decisions on water resources.

Renewable energy sources (RES) are rapidly expanding as a result of energy security and environmental concerns. Despite their numerous benefits, they pose significant challenges to power grid operation. Ghana is dedicated to reaching its 10% renewable energy mix target by 2030 to promote low-emission development. Ghana has its first hybrid power plant made up of 400MW hydropower plant and 50 MW solar PV plant supplying power to the national grid. The study designs a hydro-solar hybrid system configuration for Ghana's Bui generation unit, using data from the 50 MW ground-mounted solar PV and 133.33 MW hydropower units to assess the performance and challenges of the hydro-solar hybrid system at the Bui Generating Station. Methodology involves modeling and simulation in the DIgSILENT power factory software environment. Utilizing quasi-dynamic simulations, the study investigates variations in active power generation, voltage fluctuations, grid losses, and reactive power generation. Results highlight technical challenges such as voltage fluctuations and power loss, and propose mitigation measures. Comparisons between simulated and field data reveal discrepancies attributed to factors such as temperature effects, dust accumulation, and conductor resistance. Mitigation strategies are proposed, including energy storage expansion, smart grid implementation, advanced control techniques, FACTS device deployment and grid monitoring improvements. Despite limitations in data availability and simulation accuracy, the study underscores the system's reliability and provides insights for enhancing renewable energy integration in the region. Generally, the study contributes to advancing renewable energy integration efforts, with implications for sustainable development and climate action in Ghana and West Africa at large.

Cooking with solid fuels like charcoal is prevalent among households in Sierra Leone. These have resulted in significant release of emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter whose aerodynamic diameter is less than or equal 2.5µ(PM2.5). The study conducted a Water Boiling Test (WBT experiment on Wonder and Metal stoves, using charcoal from selected trees: abura (Mitragyna stipulosa) and mixed trees, Mango (Mangifera indica), and Matchstick (Aechmea gamosepala). During every phase of the WBT, the pollutants released by two sets of charcoals in two improved cookstoves were calculated. The High-Power Phase Cold Start (HPPCS) of the WBT indicated that when Abura charcoal was used as fuel, the average emission factors of CO2, CO, and PM2.5 were computed for the Wonder stove as: 2.58g/kg, 0.12g/kg, 307.47µg/kg and for the metal stove as, 3.64g/kg, 0.19g/kg, 446.56µg/kg. Furthermore, the emission above factors were computed with assorted charcoal for the wonder stove as 4.59g/kg, 0.119g/kg, 411.17µg/kg and for the metal stove as 5.07g/kg, 0.15g/kg, 503.28µg/kg. The emission factors were also computed throughout the simmer phases of the WBT for both Wonder and Metal stoves. The research provides guidelines for the next environmental assessments and intervention initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Water supply service is possibly the most essential of all public service in Ghana and any obstruction to its delivery threatens human survival. A major challenge to water supply is the rapid urbanisation, which has increased water demand in the urban areas, placing pressure on service providers to meet demand. Perennial water shortages in Tamale, is linked to several factors including the inability of the service provider to keep pace with the demand of the rapidly increasing population of the city. This situation could be exacerbated by natural climate variation and competing water uses upstream the city supply source. This study investigates the sustainability of raw water supply to Tamale metropolis and environs using Water Evaluation and Planning Model (WEAP). The investigation was based on scenarios analysis: Reference scenario, Population and Socio-economic growth, intensifying upstream water use and Extended Dry Climate. The results revealed that, intensifying upstream water use as projected in the study do not have impact on the downstream water availability for sustainable water supply. However, the assessment based on High Population and Socio-economic growth results showed significant value (229 million cubic meter) of Unmet Demand in year 2035 for Urban and rural demand site. The results also showed that, the water demand will outstrip raw water supply by 2029 when Extended Dry Climate occurred under scenario High population and Socio-economic growth. Possible options of water storage reservoir should be investigated so as to mitigate the effect of extended dry season. Keywords: Downstream water, Reliability, Supply requirement, Supply delivered, Un-met demand. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/13-6-05 Publication date: August 31 st 2023

Establishing a balance between energy demand and supply could create a potential network stability problem especially if there is high integration or penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. To resolve some of these challenges, the application of flexible solutions such as energy storage systems is paramount. Several storage technologies exist but pumped hydro energy storage system (PHES), which is a matured technology for large-scale storage applications, has the capability to absorb surplus electrical power from the network system, thus making it a relatively flexible cost-effective solution in comparison to other technologies such as batteries and power-to-X or interconnections. This chapter presents an overview of PHES and discusses its operating mechanism, characterization, design configurations, and pros and cons in relation to its applications.

Pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) has for years been touted as a suitable alternative for balancing the mismatch between demand and supply of electricity. As the world transits from a fossil fuel-based electricity sector to a renewable energy-based one, PHES is also continuously being used to resolve challenges regarding variable or intermittent sources of energy. This chapter presents lessons from countless literature and studies on the global development and market environment of PHES. The study reveals that critical factors such as investing in public-private research, development and deployment, instituting regulatory frameworks that stimulate innovative operation of PHES, increasing digital operation of PHES systems, and retrofitting PHES facilities could foster the uptake and revolutionize the development of PHES.