The new system increases energy storage in the Tajo basin to 210GWh, which Iberdrola states is equivalent to the capacity of 5.2 million electric vehicle batteries. The plant’s three sets are undergoing technological upgrades to restore its full pumping capacity. The improvements are also expected to enhance water quality by increasing the volume of water moving through the reservoirs.
The plant is expected to cut CO2 emissions by 200,000 tonnes annually through greater renewable energy integration. It is also generating employment, with 165 direct jobs and an estimated 500 indirect jobs, benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.
Construction had minimal environmental impact, as the project only required electromechanical work and utilized existing infrastructure, including the Valdecañas and Torrejón-Tajo reservoirs. No additional civil structures or new transmission lines were needed.
The commissioning of Valdecañas reinforces Iberdrola España’s commitment to hydroelectric storage. The company recently completed pumped storage projects in Tâmega, Portugal; Valparaíso, Zamora; Santiago Sil-Xares, Galicia; and Torrejón, Cáceres. Iberdrola España currently operates 18 pumped-storage hydroelectric plants with a total installed capacity of 6,000 MW. It has also secured environmental approval and grid access for a new reversible power plant in Alcántara, Cáceres.
