Pumped Storage Hydro

Iberdrola connects first 220 MW pump-generating unit at Tâmega complex

Iberdrola connects first 220 MW pump-generating unit at Tâmega complex
Construction on the Tamega hydro complex (photo courtesy Iberdrola)

Iberdrola reports that it has synchronized the first turbine-generator unit at the 880 MW Gouvães pumped storage hydroelectric plant, in collaboration with the Portuguese administration, delivering clean power to the grid.

The Tâmega complex is one of Europe’s largest energy storage facilities, with an investment of more than €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion). It comprises three reservoirs (Gouvães, Daivões and Alto Tâmega) and three hydroelectric power plants with 1,158 MW of capacity on the Tâmega river, a tributary of the Douro.

After eight years of construction work, the Gouvães and Daivões plants have now been completed and all of the generating units are undergoing commissioning tests.

Tâmega will be able to produce 1,766 GWh per year, enough to meet the energy needs of neighboring municipalities and the cities of Braga and Guimarães. When the Gouvães and Daivões plants are fully operational in the middle of 2022, the large Tâmega giga battery will have enough storage capacity to supply 2 million Portuguese households for an entire day and will contribute to the decarbonization and energy independence objectives set by the Portuguese government. Its commissioning will increase storage capacity available in the country by 30%.

In 2024, with the commissioning of Alto Tâmega, the facility will be fully completed.   

In addition, this infrastructure will displace 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year and diversify electricity generation sources while reducing fossil fuel dependency.

The development of this giga battery is boosting economic activity and employment in the region. Throughout the construction phase, 3,500 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs have been created. The project is supplied by over 100 companies, 75 of which are Portuguese.

As a back-up to other renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar photovoltaic, pumped storage hydroelectric technology provides stability to networks and has a key role to play in the energy transition that will lead to the decarbonization of the economy, Iberdrola said.

Iberdrola has 4,500 MW of pumped storage capacity installed, excluding this facility. The company expects to reach 90 million kWh of storage capacity by the end of 2022.