Iberdrola España has commissioned upgrades at the Valdecañas pumped storage hydropower plant in Cáceres, increasing the system’s capacity by 355MW and adding 210GWh of storage capacity to its Tagus River hydroelectric scheme.
The company said the facility has already completed its first pumping operations following the upgrade programme.
The project connects the Alcántara and Valdecañas reservoirs and includes the integration of a 15MW/7.5MWh hybrid battery system. Iberdrola said the additional storage capacity is equivalent to more than two weeks of electricity demand in the Extremadura region.
According to the company, the works were confined to electromechanical upgrades aimed at increasing operational flexibility. No new civil infrastructure, reservoir modifications or transmission lines were required.
Iberdrola said coordinated operation of the Valdecañas, Torrejón, Alcántara and Cedillo reservoirs, together with management of the Tiétar tributary through pumping operations, will support flood mitigation, ecosystem management and optimisation of strategic water reserves.
The Valdecañas project forms part of Iberdrola’s broader storage strategy in Spain, combining pumped storage hydropower and battery energy storage systems.
The company said its hydroelectric assets in Extremadura have a combined installed capacity of 2,000MW, while its total pumped storage portfolio in Spain exceeds 4,200MW.
Iberdrola added that future pumped storage development will depend on long-term water concessions and revenue stabilisation mechanisms to support investment.
