Czech pumped-storage plants again saw record use last year

The three Czech pumped-storage hydropower plants (PSHPPs) once again surpassed their record for electricity generation last year. Overall, the plants stored and supplied back to the grid more than 1 TWh of electricity.

Czech PSHPPs were already on track to beat their production record by the end of the first half of last year, when they recorded a 17% increase compared with output in the same period of 2014. In fact, 2014 was the first year in which the three plants exceeded the 1 TWh threshold for electricity generated. In 2015, output reached 1.09 TWh.

“Year on year, this represents a 2.4% increase in generation. The sustained growth in output over four years is repeatedly driven by the fact that pumped-storage plants are being deployed more frequently across the Czech power system to balance generation, or rather non-generation, from unpredictable renewable sources. A higher level of trading in generated electricity during daily price peaks also plays a major role.”
Petr Maralík, director of ČEZ Hydropower Plants

As usual, Dlouhé stráně accounted for the largest share of record output, approximately half, supplying 0.55 TWh of energy to the grid. Dalešice followed with 0.48 TWh, while Štěchovice II also contributed 0.06 TWh.

A similar increase can be expected in the coming years, given the growing share of installed capacity in renewable sources. However, the construction of pumped-storage hydropower plants is a highly demanding process for many reasons, whether environmental or technological.

The most recent pumped-storage hydropower plant was commissioned in Czechia in the underground premises of the former Jeremenko mine in Ostrava last July. However, this plant does not serve the same function as the three largest Czech PSHPPs; it is a pilot facility operated for research purposes. In the future, however, similar plants could see routine use.

Lead photo source: Daniel Baránek