In the coastal area of western Croatia, a brand new pumped storage project has officially started the preliminary process. The 160 MW Vinodol pumped storage hydropower station launched by the Croatian power company HEP will fill the key flexible energy storage gap in the local high proportion renewable energy grid.

Energy storage layout suitable for high proportion green electricity

With the continuous increase in the proportion of variable renewable energy generation in the Croatian power grid, the demand for long-term flexible energy storage in the grid is rapidly rising. Pumped storage, as a mature energy storage technology that has been validated for decades, is one of the most reliable solutions for balancing the supply and demand fluctuations of green electricity. At present, HEP has put into operation two pumped storage power stations, namely the Velebit power station with an installed capacity of 276 MW and the Lepenica power station with an installed capacity of less than 1 MW. There is also a small pumped storage facility with a capacity of 4.5 MW operating on the grid. After the Vinodol project is put into operation, it will significantly expand the country's long-term energy storage capacity.

Optimize the construction path based on existing facilities

The Vinodol project is located in the Vinodol municipality of Binhai Gorskikotal County, on the mainland across from Kerk Island. The project adopts a dual reservoir design, fully utilizing existing local water conservancy facilities, which can significantly reduce construction costs and disturbance to the surrounding ecology. The core operation logic of the project is clear, utilizing surplus green electricity to transport about one million cubic meters of water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. During peak hours, the water turbine is driven by the water level drop to generate electricity. The power station can achieve continuous pumping for 10 to 10.5 hours, with a stable power generation time of 7.5 to 8 hours. The installed capacity of 160 megawatts will be directly connected to the existing 110 kV transmission line, without the need for large-scale new power grid support.

The environmental impact assessment process has entered the stage of public participation

At present, the Croatian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transformation has officially accepted the application submitted by HEP, and the environmental impact assessment research procedure for the Vinodol project has been officially launched. This environmental impact assessment report was prepared by Elektroprojekt, a company headquartered in Zagreb. A mandatory public consultation process will be initiated, and the entire review period will last for at least 60 days. The specific public announcement date will be announced later. Keywords: new energy, pumped storage

As the largest newly added pumped storage project in Croatia in recent years, the Vinodor power station will significantly enhance the local grid's ability to absorb wind and photovoltaic power, providing stable and reliable long-term energy storage support for Croatia to promote its green transformation goals.Editor/Cheng Liting