Pumped storage power stations use water to generate electricity. Water is pumped from a lower to an upper reservoir using electrical energy, a process known as pumping work or electricity offtake. The water is later released back to the lower reservoir, driving the turbines of the pumped storage power station to create electricity. By increasing the supply of or demand for electricity, pumped storage provides flexibility and plays an important role in the electricity market.

SMARD previously only showed the electricity generated by pumped storage stations as a component of the "actual generation" data category. The time series for the electricity taken off by pumped storage now comes under "actual consumption" and can be combined with other categories, such as balancing energy, under Market data visuals. Please note that the electricity offtake of pumped storage is not part of the electricity consumption (i.e. the grid load).

The data on electricity taken off by pumped storage in a 15-minute period can be viewed and downloaded for nearly every region going back to 2015. For this function first select Data download and then "Main category: Electricity generation". The electricity offtake of pumped storage is thus an addition to the "actual consumption" category.