Żarnowiec Pumped Storage Power Station Explained

Żarnowiec Pumped Storage Power Station
Coordinates:54.7223°N 18.0824°W
Country:Poland
Location:Czymanowo
Status:O
Construction Began:1973
Opening:1983
Owner:PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna
Res Name:Upper Żarnowiec
Res Capacity Total:16445000m2[1]
Lower Res Name:Lake Żarnowiec
Lower Res Capacity Total:124000000m2[2]
Plant Turbines:4 x 170 MW reversible Francis turbines[3]
Plant Hydraulic Head:119.3m (391.4feet)
Plant Capacity:680 MW

The Żarnowiec Pumped Storage Power Station is a pumped-storage power station located about 7km (04miles) south of Żarnowiec, in Puck County, northern Poland. It was constructed between 1973 and 1983 and underwent a modernisation between 2007 and 2011, with the upper reservoir reconstructed in 2006.[4]

With a capacity of 680 MW, it is the largest hydroelectric power station in Poland. It uses four 170 MW Francis pump-turbines to send water from its lower reservoir, Lake Żarnowiec, up to an upper reservoir for storage. During periods of high power demand, the water is released back down to the turbines to produce power. Water is pumped back up during periods of low power demand, such as night time. The power station was originally intended to be a load balancer for Żarnowiec Nuclear Power Plant which was supposed to be constructed on the opposite side of Lake Żarnowiec.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hydroelectric Żarnowiec - modernization of the upper reservoir. PGE Polish Energy Group. 21 February 2014. Polish.
  2. Web site: Decrease of faunal diversity in a disturbed lake, as exemplified by Tanytarsini chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) of Jezioro śarnowieckie. FRAGMENTA FAUNISTICA. MUSEUM AND INSTITUTE OF ZOOLOGY PAS. 21 February 2014.
  3. Web site: Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Plants in Poland. IndustCards. 21 February 2014.
  4. Web site: Hydro Power Plants. Energoprojekt Warszawa S.A.. 21 February 2014.
  5. Web site: Żarnowiec Pumped Storage. DOE Global Energy Storage Database. 21 February 2014.