White Paper launched at COP31: Water batteries to provide secure and homegrown energy
Developed with input from more than 60 governments, the White Paper was launched at a Global Alliance for Pumped Storage meeting at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. It sets out policy recommendations to accelerate investment in long-duration energy storage and strengthen national energy security.
Antalya, Türkiye, 13 November 2026 – As countries look to energy security, resilience and homegrown alternatives at COP31, a new international white paper sets out a practical roadmap for governments to accelerate the development of pumped storage – a long-duration energy storage technology that will be critical to ensuring reliable, resilient and secure electricity systems.
The paper, developed collaboratively with the Global Alliance for Pumped Storage (GAPS), was presented today at a high-level roundtable bringing together representatives of more than 60 governments and international agencies. It provides a series of policy recommendations to address the barriers limiting pumped storage development and help countries unlock its full contribution to their energy systems.
The launch comes as UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns that the “climate crisis is outrunning global efforts to address it”. With electricity demand growing, economies accelerating electrification, and renewable energy expanding rapidly, the need to build reliable, flexible and resilient power systems has never been greater.
The COP31 Global Electrification Pledge aims to raise electricity’s share of final energy consumption from around 23% today to 35% by 2035. This will require flexible, strong and resilient long-duration energy storage at scale.
Pumped storage is one of the most established and strategically important solutions available. It provides large-scale, long-duration electricity storage alongside essential services that keep power systems stable, including vital ancillary services that provide frequency and voltage control, operating reserves, and critical black start capability.
Crucially, pumped storage can also strengthen national energy sovereignty. Unlike many energy technologies that depend on complex international supply chains, pumped storage does not rely on importing, extracting, or processing critical minerals to operate. It primarily relies on domestic resources: water, topography and local labour. Projects can make use of existing reservoirs, lakes, hydropower infrastructure and former mine sites, while supporting domestic employment and delivering infrastructure with an operational lifespan that can extend across generations. A recent survey in Spain indicated that it produces as much as 14 times as many local jobs than other battery technologies.
However, despite its proven capabilities, pumped storage development continues to face significant policy, regulatory and investment barriers due to significant upfront investment, long development timelines and substantial site-specific preparation.
To support these important energy security assets, the new White Paper identifies seven priority recommendations for governments:
- Assess the need and plan for energy storage
- Recognise pumped storage as strategic national security infrastructure
- Establish clear legal definitions of energy storage
- Identify and prepare sites
- Streamline permitting and licensing
- Create an enabling investment environment
- Remunerate pumped storage services
Governments have a critical role in establishing the policy and market conditions needed to bring projects forward at scale, while ensuring their development meets robust environmental and social sustainability standards.
Malcolm Turnbull, IHA President commented: “As countries seek to become energy secure and accelerate electrification, we cannot afford to overlook the infrastructure that makes these systems work. Pumped storage is a proven, long-term investment in national energy security and sovereignty. This paper gives governments a practical set of recommendations to turn that potential into projects, investment and greater resilience for their electricity systems.”
