a macroproject of 1,800 MW without the need for new reservoirs

In recent weeks the heavy rains They have filled to the limit different reservoirs, forcing many of them to open your gates. But what if all That water will be stored To create a giant battery for renewables? In Galicia they have got to work.

The biggest in Spain. The great reversible hydroelectric power plant will be known as Conse II and will be located on the Bibey River, in the province of Ourense, According to Vigo’s lighthouse. In this same medium they have pointed out that the project will be lifted taking advantage of the 690 meter altitude difference between the Cenza and Bao reservoirs. In addition, the initiative will be developed by Iberdrola and will have an investment of 1,500 million euros.

An underground giant battery. The new project is also known as the pumping hydroelectric plant. The operation of the plant is as energy storage when there is an excess renewable energy in the system. More easily, the plant uses that excess to pump water from a reservoir less than a superior. So when there are demand peaks, water will fall again, moving turbines that will generate electricity, acting as a natural battery.

An expanded project. According to Galicia’s voicethe original idea was to build a 900 MW plant, but Iberdrola decided to double its capacity to 1800MW after additional studies. However, these same analyzes detected geological risks in the area where the great underground cavern will be excavated that will house much of the plant.

More studies. The Xunta de Galicia has given the approval To carry out new geotechnical research, as the Galician medium has learned. In addition, these new studies include the opening of an access gallery of 1,500 meters and another of 200 meters, which will allow analyzing the land directly before starting the main work

An environmental problem? In recent months, There were many demands to stop different wind -collo -projects due to the environmental impact, but the Supreme Court recently has given The reason for renewables. As the Vigo lighthouse has been recordedthe authorities have estimated that the environmental impact will be minimal as it is an underground infrastructure. In addition, the Ministry of Environment He has stressed that will not affect the area of ​​special conservation (ZEC) of the central massif, belonging to the Natura 2000 Network.

However, as they have explained from progressthe environmental report has indicated several aspects that must be managed during the execution of the works, such as the large volume of land movement the acoustic impact and vibrations during construction. For this reason, noise levels will be required to comply with current regulations and that Iberdrola present a previous study on possible conditions to nearby populations.

More storage. Spain closed last year with 63.9% of the total renewable generationbeing wind and solar the ones that produce the most. For this reason, and given the intermittency of these sources, it is important that it will continue to look for ways to store the surplus. According to has detailed the voice of Galiciathe works of this hydroelectric plant will last about 21 months, to which three more months are added to complete the technical polls, so it will still wait.

Image | Dichiano man

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