That was the comparison I felt compelled to make. I have been a big fan of pumped hydro for many years.
Contrary to what skeptics say, there are countless locations all over. [2]
There is a suitable location 3 times larger than the Chinese one I linked That could use California's sites reservoir [1] under construction as a lower basin. It would have a similar 400m head, and an upper reservoir with 3 times the capacity or 120 GWh.
"The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon ... up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) deep [and which] stretches for over eighty miles (130 km) as the river winds westward [toward Portland]." - WPedia
Hmmm. Now I'm wondering how many reservoirs already (or could) exist above and along 80 miles of river. (No need to dig tunnels to the generators.)
Exactly one reservoir (or a number of tiny ones not worth mentioning), because even all the way from Richland to Portland there is hardly any elevation drop.
PS: oh, you meant reservoirs in contributory valleys left and right of the main river. Sorry about the misread, "above and along" should have been clear enough.
this works for water storage, and some for hydro generation, but for hydro stroage, you really want two large basins with as big of a elevation change as possible.
This is because dams are very expensive, have height limitations, and some inherent risk. Hover dam is only ~200 meters high. The big hydro storage projects have height changes ~400 meters.
Contrary to what skeptics say, there are countless locations all over. [2]
There is a suitable location 3 times larger than the Chinese one I linked That could use California's sites reservoir [1] under construction as a lower basin. It would have a similar 400m head, and an upper reservoir with 3 times the capacity or 120 GWh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sites_Reservoir
https://re100.anu.edu.au/#share=g-e5955e35f1c7f3677ac265bcdd...
another: https://maps.nrel.gov/psh