P-PHES VELILLA

P-PHES VELILLA is a pure Reversible Wastewater Treatment Plant, without water input, and therefore, it pumps the same volume of water that is turbined.

Regarding to the operation foreseen for this type of installation, the water is pumped from the lower tank to the upper tank during off-peak hours, when consumption is lower or when there is a surplus of renewable energy. Subsequently, to meet the needs of the electrical system or when consumption cannot be covered by renewable generation, the volume of water stored in the upper reservoir is turbined to the lower reservoir, thus generating energy. Its regulation is daily, equalizing in this period of time the volumes in both directions.

The plant will participate in an active manner in the purchase and sale of energy in the daily and in adjustment services markets, being especially prepared to provide primary and secondary regulation to the system, given the flexibility of response of this technology to the demand.

P-PHES VELILLA also incorporates a very relevant social and environmental component, due to it treats waste water from abandoned mines and uses land affected by mining.

The facilities designed at P-PHES VELILLA are ideal for treating acid mine drainage AMD (Acid Mine Drainage) water, since pollutants removal processes take place at the CDR. The process of treating contaminated water, in combination with the reversible hydro power plant as a large-scale energy storage, has been patented by the project promoters.

P-PHES VELILLA represents, among others, singularities and benefits from the energetic and environmental point of view. It allows the introduction of more renewable energies into the electrical system, contributing to its proper management. In addition, P-PHES VELILLA provides the associated environmental benefits generated by the treatment of contaminated water. P-PHES VELILLA project participates in the ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for electricity) call within the TYNDP 2020 (The Ten-Year Network Development Plan), which brings together different projects of European interest in electrical storage.

P-PHES VELILLA project concept has been recognized of high interest for future opportunities that it provides to traditional mining regions, currently included as territories in an energy and just transition.

Its commissioning date is expected to be December 2026.