The Tarnita-Lapustesti pump-storage hydro complex is more environmentally friendly and more efficient than having the same capacity in battery storage, according to Romanian Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja. It is estimated that Romania needs 4,000 MW of storage. This could be achieved by building pump-storage HPPs instead of batteries, such as Tarnita-Lapustesti, Bicaz, Macin and Izvorul Muntelui.
Burduja reminded that there are eight such projects that have been identified at the national level, but the most advanced is certainly HPP Tarnita-Lapustesti, adding that at least half of the abovementioned 4 GW storage capacity could be in pump-storage HPPs. He said that the feasibility study for HPP Tarnita-Lapustesti project will be completed in six to nine months.
In July, state energy fund SAPE launched a market consultation process to estimate the price of the construction of a storage capacity of up to 1,000 MW for HPP Tarnita-Lapustesti, which should intervene in the balancing of the national electricity system for durations of between 4 to 6 hours.
The latest version of Romania’s Energy Strategy states that after 2030 pump-storage hydropower plants would be an opportunity and the capacity needed for such installations is estimated at between 850 MW and 1.1 GW by 2050.
The HPPThe HPP Tarnita-Lapustesti project envisages the construction of a pump-storage hydropower plant with an output of 1,000 MW (4×250 MW).
