Which hydroelectric approach moves water between reservoirs to balance the electricity load?

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Pumped storage hydro is designed to balance the electricity load by storing energy as gravitational potential energy. Water is pumped from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir when demand is low and excess power is available, then released back down through turbines to generate electricity when demand is high. This quick on/off cycling helps regulate grid frequency and provides peak shaving, making it a practical giant battery for the system. Other hydro options don’t provide that two-reservoir storage-and-release capability: run-of-river relies on natural flow with little to no storage, so output tracks river flow rather than load; tidal barrage uses ocean tides for energy without moving water between stored reservoirs; micro-hydro is small-scale and typically involves minimal storage, focusing on local generation rather than large-scale load balancing.