Iberdrola España, Iberdrola’s subsidiary Spain, is enhancing energy storage capacity on the River Tagus through the implementation of technological upgrades at the Valdecañas facility (Cáceres, south-western Spain). The commissioning of these improvements increases the system’s total capacity by 355 MW and adds 210 GWh of storage, reinforcing renewable energy integration and improving the resilience and reliability of the electricity system.
This facility has already successfully carried out its first pumping operations. The ‘gigabattery’ created by interconnecting two of Europe’s largest reservoirs – Alcántara and Valdecañas – enables the absorption of surplus energy from intermittent renewable sources (solar and wind) to be fed back into the system when these sources are unavailable and demand requires it.
The upgraded configuration at Valdecañas also incorporates a 15 MW / 7.5 MWh hybrid battery, further increasing the Tajo system’s storage capacity by up to 210 GWh. This is equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of 60,000 households, more than 4 million electric vehicle batteries, or more than two weeks of total electricity demand in Extremadura. This additional capacity enhances system flexibility and supports more efficient demand management, particularly during peak periods.
In addition, the coordinated operation of the Valdecañas, Torrejón, Alcántara and Cedillo reservoirs — supported by active management of the Tiétar tributary through pumping — helps to mitigate flood peaks, reduce flood risk, preserve ecosystems and optimise strategic water reserves throughout the year.
The full article is available on the Iberdrola España’s Communication Room.