en.Wedoany.com Reported - Czech energy group ČEZ has announced plans to modernize the Orlík hydropower plant, converting part of its facilities into a pumped storage hydropower plant. The project is expected to be operational by 2033, giving the Czech Republic its fourth large-scale pumped storage plant

The project will convert two of Orlík's four units into fully reversible pumped storage units, allowing water to be pumped back from the downstream Kamýk reservoir to the Orlík reservoir for storage. The upgraded plant will be able to store 750 MWh of electricity per cycle, meeting the daily electricity needs of approximately 80,000 Czech households. The Orlík hydropower plant is part of the Vltava Cascade, and its fourth unit was commissioned 63 years ago.

Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček stated that the government prioritizes the development of zero-emission power generation and energy storage in the energy sector. He noted that the last pumped storage plant in the Czech Republic was built in the mid-1990s, and Dlouhé stráně has become one of the country's symbols of hydropower storage. Building a new pumped storage facility after three decades is of great significance.

ČEZ CEO and Chairman Daniel Beneš said the company decided to preserve Orlík's role in the power system while increasing storage capacity. He pointed out that the 70-meter elevation difference between the Kamýk and Orlík reservoirs makes the project feasible. The conversion will be carried out within the existing facility footprint, requiring no additional land, balancing efficiency and environmental protection. The project will be phased to ensure at least two units remain operational during the modernization.

Engineers will modernize all four units, maintaining the plant's total installed capacity of 364 MW. The two conventional units will have a combined output of 190 MW, while the two reversible units will provide 174 MW of pumped storage capacity. The main phase of modernization is planned to begin in 2027, with the pumped storage facility expected to be operational by 2033. Upon completion, the Czech Republic's pumped storage capacity will increase by more than 12%.

ČEZ is cooperating with the Vltava River Basin Authority, which owns the reservoirs. Authority CEO Petr Kubala stated that the plant conversion will not involve major structural interventions to the dam, will not alter the operating water levels defined in the operational rules, and will not require land acquisition, nor will it affect recreational activities, navigation, or fishing. The project is also supported by the Wikov Group, whose Chairman Martin Wichterle believes the project demonstrates the world-class level of Czech engineering.

ČEZ stated that the Orlík project will be the largest in the modern history of Czech hydropower. The company has previously modernized approximately 40 units at plants including Lipno, Dlouhé stráně, Slapy, Kamýk, Mohelno, and Dalešice. An investment of approximately CZK 5 billion has improved turbine efficiency by 4% to 10% (depending on the plant and turbine type), preparing them for decades of operation.

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