Construction works start for 200 MW pumped storage hydropower project in Spain

The General Directorate for Energy of the Department of Ecological Transition has issued the administrative authority for the Salto de Chira pumped-storage hydroelectric power station project. It will be built on the island of Gran Canaria. This is the first major energy storage project in the Canary Islands.

The approval of the preliminary administrative and construction permits, as well as the declaration of Public Utility of the project, will allow construction work to begin on the energy storage infrastructure.

The 200 MW pumped-storage hydroelectric power station will be located between two large inland reservoirs (the Chira and Soria dams). It has the capacity to fulfill approximately 36% of the peak demand of the island of Gran Canaria and has an energy storage capacity of 3.5 GWh. Additionally, the project includes the construction of a seawater desalination plant and the associated marine works, as well as the necessary facilities for connection to the transmission grid.