- Iberdrola’s 880MW pumped hydro plant is set to go online in mid-2022
Iberdrola plans to open up its 880MW pumped hydropower plant at the Tamega energy storage complex to full commercial operations in mid-2022. It has just connected the first of four 220MW turbines at the Gouvaes hydroelectric power plant, which will provide 880MW of pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) alongside two run-of-river hydroelectric plants.
The Gouvaes plant will increase Portugal’s pumped hydropower by 30% from where it is today. The Tamega energy storage complex is being built on the Tamega river with €1.5 billion (US$1.69 billion) of investment by Iberdrola, with the help of a €650 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
It will be able to produce 1,766 GWh per year and will be a hybrid plant with two attached wind farms totalling 300MW. The wind power will partially be used to drive the water back up to the Gouvães reservoir and be fed into the grid.
The Gouvães plant ranks as one of the largest pumped hydro projects.