The decision on whether to build a pumped storage power plant in Hungary could be taken soon

In the coming weeks, exploratory drilling will begin at two possible sites in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Heves counties to provide basic geological information for a study on the feasibility of the decades-old project, the Ministry of Energy (EM) announced on Friday.

Recognising the need for renewable energy production and storage, huge solar energy capacities have been built in Hungary in recent years. The production of systems with an installed capacity of more than 6,000 megawatts can be efficiently coordinated with the current consumption needs if they allow for the storage of environmentally friendly electricity for later use, EM explained in a statement.

After obtaining the permits, exploratory drilling to assess the load-bearing capacity of the soil can begin in the spring at two locations, in the villages of Sajóivánka in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County and Markaz in Heves County. These companies are also involved in the design and maintenance of natural gas industrial facilities. planning and maintenance of natural gas industry facilities. The soil samples will be analysed in a laboratory, and the results will be incorporated into the feasibility study for the pumped energy storage facility, which will be completed this year. Thanks to the test drilling, a decision on the development, which is justified from an energy perspective, can be made on a sound technical and scientific basis, explained EM.

Simple and durable technology

Pumped energy storage systems (PES), which consist of a lower and an upper reservoir, are a proven tool worldwide. The amount of energy pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir is in excess of the instantaneous demand. By lowering the reservoir, a turbine and generator can be started during periods of power shortage, thus providing a cheap and environmentally friendly way to recover electricity.

The ministry points out that the pumped storage system has a long lifetime, low operating costs and no emissions. The facility's good controllability makes it easy to integrate weather-dependent capacities into the system. Green energy storage contributes to energy independence and increases security of supply for families and businesses.

It is planned that the first domestic RES-E plant would have an installed capacity of 600 megawatts and would be able to produce energy for 6 hours, the time it would take for water to flow from the upper reservoir to the lower one. To protect the water in the basins and ensure responsible water management, part of the water surface would be covered with floating solar panels, which would also reduce evaporation.