Statkraft advances 1.6 GW pumped storage hydro in Albania
Date: October 29th 2024
Author: Montel
Category: En.vision
Topic:
Electricity
, Renewables
Norwegian renewables developer Statkraft has appointed consultancies Multiconsult and Tractebel to conduct a feasibility study for a 1.6 GW pump storage plant in Albania, 400 MW above its original target.
Statkraft already runs two hydropower plants in Albania – the 197 MW Moglice and 72 MW Banje hydropower plants – which are located in the Devoll River valley in central Albania.For its new project, Statkraft plans to use the existing Moglice reservoir as the lower reservoir and to build a new upper reservoir where a reverse pump will be installed to allow for repetition of the water cycle.
Early this year Statkraft said that construction could begin next year and the planned launch date is 2030. At the time, the company estimated the project’s capacity at 1.2 GW.
Multiconsult said that once completed the energy storage capacity in the reservoir will be around 28 GWh.
“Pumped storage hydro schemes will play a key role in ensuring efficient energy storage as more solar and wind power is integrated into the energy system,” said Multiconsult’s Lars Jorgen Saaghus in a statement late on Friday.
Project reshuffle
This news came shortly after Statkraft announced its exit from Croatia, citing high upfront grid connection costs.
The company also referred to having “more profitable renewable energy projects in the portfolio” than its investment capacity is capable of finalising.
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