Author(s): Isabel Jimenez Puente; Imanol Garcia Sendon
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Abstract: Currently, Spain is undergoing an energy transition process where hydraulic storage will play a significant role. As the country expands its use of renewables, there is a critical need to store energy in order to improve the stability and reliability of the grid. The latest revision of the Spanish Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) aims to construct 22 GW of storage by 2030, and 30 GW by 2050. To achieve these goals, Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) emerges as a technology with great potential to balance supply and demand and integrate renewable energy sources, specifically in a country like Spain, which has favorable conditions for its development. When there is an excess energy from a renewable source, the system pumps water uphill to a reservoir. When energy demand is high or renewable energy production is not enough, the stored water generates electricity. Currently, there is an installed capacity of around 6 GW, with PSH facilities strategically distributed across the country. In addition to the PNIEC goals, Spanish legislation has lately paved the way for further PSH developments, addressing barriers related to the administrative process such as concession incompatibilities, or recognizing hydraulic energy storage as a priority within the order of precedence in the use of water. The plan is ambitious: increase the use of already available water storage capacity in the country, prevent waste as other renewable sources are integrated, and extend substantially the installed capacity. A key point for this growth will be the National Hydraulic Energy Storage Program (PNAHE), which focuses on using state-owned reservoirs for new PSH projects. In particular, the National Program PNAHE, will focus on 37 technically relevant locations, with a total storage capacity of around 77 GWh of energy, and a daily capacity of around 8 GW.
Year: 2026