Iberdrola España commissions Santiago-Sil-Xares hydroelectric power station pumping

• The new energy storage facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year with the hybridisation of the 5 MWh battery.
• Optimisation of the current system will stabilise the grid by enabling clean electricity generation with a faster response time.
• Promoting and fostering renewables is key to rural development and a guarantee for the future of many municipalities.

Iberdrola España has begun the first tests to improve and optimise the Santiago Sil-Xares pumped storage plant in the municipality of Vilamartín de Valdeorras, Ourense. A static starter has been installed which, together with a 5MWh battery, will enable the hydroelectric pumping between the two rivers, which have a gradient of 230 metres, 50 MW of power and a storage capacity of almost 3 GWh (3,000 MWh), to be fed into the grid in a faster and more flexible way. 

With its commissioning, another step is taken in the production of renewable hydroelectric energy and in the management of the electricity system. First tests have already begun and by the end of the year they should be at full capacity, with the hybridisation of the 5 MWh battery. This type of installation, known as gigabatteries, is essential for progress in decarbonisation and is the most efficient large-scale storage system currently available. 

Pumping makes it possible to accumulate surplus energy from non-manageable renewable sources, solar and wind, so that it is available when it is most needed. This provides stability to the electricity system as it enables significant amounts of clean energy to be generated with a very fast response time. Iberdrola España is consolidating the investment it is making both to optimise its current facilities with this technology, which is the national leader, and to develop new sites. 

Driver for rural development

The Sil-Xares hydroelectric plant, with an average production of 100 GWh/year, came into operation more than five decades ago. It has four hydroelectric groups: two of them run-of-river, called Santiago-Sil, with a power of 14 MW and a flow of 160 m3/s, and another two reversible Francis turbines, Santiago-Xares, with a pumped storage capacity of 50 MW of power and a flow of 18 m3/s. 

The pumped-storage power plants have two reservoirs at different heights so water can be transported from one to the other when demand is low and to be used again when electricity demand rises. 

With the Santiago Sil-Xares project, Iberdrola España continues its investments both to optimise its existing pumped storage facilities, where it is the national leader with more than 3,000 MW of capacity (more than 50% of the total in Spain), and to develop new storage facilities.

Developing renewable energies encourages rural development and guarantees the future for many municipalities thanks to numerous green initiatives that boost local activity and benefit communities. All of them are examples of coexistence with agriculture and livestock farming, respect the environment and contribute to job creation in each area.