Segundo borrador de la definición de energía hidroeléctrica de almacenamiento por bombeo de bajo impacto
In collaboration with an external Advisory Group representing a broad cross section of the hydropower community, and in response to comments on the initial draft Definition, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has developed this Revised Second Draft Definition of Low Impact Pumped Storage Hydropower (LI-PSH). The Definition and supporting documentation could help provide an outline for best practices in developing and operating LI-PSH projects.
Comments on the initial draft Definition were incorporated into this revised second draft with a Nuevo período de comentarios públicos abierto desde el 1 de diciembre de 2025 hasta el 30 de enero de 2026.
We welcome your additional comments on the second draft. We are particularly interested in your input on:
- Ways in which LIHI could implement the Definition,
- Si un programa de certificación sería valioso y
- ¿Qué factores debería considerar LIHI al desarrollar un programa de este tipo?
Haga clic en la imagen a continuación para revisar o descargar el segundo borrador revisado de la definición de energía hidroeléctrica de almacenamiento por bombeo de bajo impacto.
Resultados de los comentarios sobre la definición del borrador inicial
The first public comment period opened on February 19, 2025 and closed on May 20, 2025. LIHI staff, the LIHI board's LI-PSH Task Force, and the Advisory Group reviewed the comments and developed this revised Definition. A summary of the public comments received and LIHI staff responses can be found AQUÍ.
Any questions on the revised second draft Definition can be directed to either Shannon Ames o María Alice Fisher.
Fondo
LIHI’s certification program has explicitly excluded PSH primarily because fossil and nuclear fuels supplied by regional electric grids were (and still are) the most common source of power for the PSH pumping cycle. Yet, recognizing the increasing penetration of wind and solar power since LIHI’s founding in 1999, the idea of potentially expanding the certification program to include PSH projects has percolated for several years. Over the last year, a cross-disciplined Advisory Group developed the draft definition based on the following objectives:
- Determinar qué aspectos de los recursos naturales, sociales y culturales podrían verse afectados por la construcción y operación de proyectos de almacenamiento por bombeo nuevos y existentes en los EE. UU.
- Articular claramente objetivos estrictos pero alcanzables que conduzcan al resultado óptimo para minimizar los impactos para cada tipo de recurso.
- Definir estándares basados en la ciencia y el conocimiento para demostrar que se han cumplido los objetivos.
- Publicar los resultados con suficiente detalle para que los proyectos de PSH puedan evaluar sus impactos e informar el diseño de proyectos futuros.
The resulting second draft Definition encompasses eleven impact areas, along with goals and alternative standards for each impact area that can characterize PSH projects as being low impact. For more background information please click AQUÍ.
Once the Definition is finalized, the LIHI Governing Board puede considerar creando un programa de certificación de Bajo Impacto para proyectos LI-PSH.