The Valdecañas Hydroelectric Power Plant, located at the Valdecañas Reservoir in Cáceres, Extremadura, is a pumped-storage hydroelectric generation and energy storage facility operated by Iberdrola. The commissioning of its modernization and capacity restoration project has recently begun.

The facility consists of three generating units with the following installed capacities:

• Unit 1 (G1): approximately 82.79 MW of installed capacity.
• Unit 2 (G2): approximately 82.35 MW of installed capacity.
• Unit 3 (G3): approximately 82.03 MW of installed capacity.

The combined output of these three generating units provides a total hydroelectric generation capacity of approximately 247.17 MW when operating with all units integrated in conventional mode, generating electricity by harnessing the hydraulic head of the reservoir.

In addition, the plant incorporates a 15 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) with 7.5 MWh of stored energy, designed to enhance operational flexibility, support demand and load curve management, and enable more efficient integration of renewable energy sources.

Overall, the plant’s total installed capacity, including the three generating units and the complementary energy storage system, is approximately 225 MW of operational capacity in pumped-storage mode, enabling both power generation and energy storage according to grid requirements. This technical configuration, combining three generating units with hybrid energy storage, positions Valdecañas as a key asset within Spain’s energy system by maximizing renewable energy generation, balancing electricity demand, and providing grid stability services—critical factors in the transition toward an energy model with a higher share of clean energy sources.

In this project, CT Engineering Group has played a key role in both the technical development and commissioning of the facility, contributing to the engineering associated with the pumped-storage operating mode as well as to the commissioning support activities for the generating units.

Our contribution included the definition and validation of the electrical and control schemes required for the plant’s reversible operation, along with the verification of functional logic, protection systems, and critical operating sequences to ensure the proper performance of the pumping system. During the commissioning phase, our teams also provided on-site technical support, working closely with Iberdrola and the other stakeholders involved to ensure seamless system integration, compliance with operational requirements, and the overall reliability of the facility.

Through this involvement, CT has contributed to the safe and efficient commissioning of a strategic asset for Spain’s power system, further strengthening its expertise in complex hydropower projects and advanced energy storage solutions.

Our participation in the Valdecañas project adds to our collaboration with Iberdrola on more than twenty hydroelectric power plants over the past five years, reinforcing a record of accomplishment built on delivering specialized engineering solutions for critical energy infrastructure.