As Europe accelerates its energy transition, a Czech hydroelectric power station that has been in operation for over half a century is ushering in its second life. Litostroj Engineering has recently been officially selected as the general contractor for the modernization project of the Orl í k hydropower station. The conventional hydropower station will be fully upgraded to a large-scale pumped storage power station, with plans to complete it before 2033. At that time, it will become the third largest pumped storage power station in the Czech Republic, operated by Czech energy company Č EZ.

A century old veteran showcases its hard power

According to the contract, Litostroj Engineering will undertake the full process technical delivery from hydraulic design, model testing to mechanical system design, and be responsible for manufacturing and supplying new mixed flow water pump turbines and generators. The new unit has the ability to operate in both power generation and pumping directions, can quickly switch operating conditions, and accurately respond to grid dispatch instructions. This European hydroelectric equipment manufacturer with over a hundred years of history has a deep foundation in the design and manufacturing of water pumps and turbines. Winning the full process delivery contract once again confirms its industry position.

After the renovation is completed, the energy storage capacity of Orl í k power station will reach 750MWh, which is equivalent to installing a giant power bank for the Czech power grid. During periods of low electricity consumption, pumped storage is used for energy storage, while during peak periods, water is released for power generation. This significantly enhances the grid's peak shaving capacity and operational stability, providing solid support for the large-scale integration of intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaics.

New Path for Energy Storage Expansion in Europe

Compared to the construction of new pumped storage power stations, upgrading and renovating existing conventional hydropower stations has significant advantages such as low investment costs, short construction periods, and minimal environmental impact. It has become a priority direction for many European countries to enhance their energy storage capacity. Keywords: pumped storage power station, hydropower station, new energy

The Orlik project is one of the largest hydroelectric energy storage investments in Czech Republic in recent years, and also provides a replicable sample for the transformation of old infrastructure worldwide. When new construction is better than renovation, existing assets are becoming the most undervalued resource in energy transformation.Editor/Cheng Liting