The Turlough Hill Power Station is a in, owned and operated by the (ESB). Like all pumped-storage hydroelectric schemes, it makes use of two water connected by a pressure tunnel: in this case an artificial reservoir near the summit of the mountain and the naturally occurring corrie lake, Lough Nah.
Can a pump-storage hydroelectric system improve Ireland's transmission network?
The upgrade of Ireland's transmission network is hampered by the need to obtain way leaves, planning and to overcome local objections to HVC routes. The proposed Pump-Storage Hydroelectric (PSH) system can address some of these issues and partially avoid the need for the transmission network to be built to peak demands.
Which pumped storage facility in Ireland has 292 MW?
The Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources reported to the Oireachtas on 15 January 2014 "... in Ireland we have the Turlough Hill pumped storage facility in County Wicklow, which has a capacity of 292 MW.
Is Turlough Hill Ireland's only pumped-storage hydroelectricity plant?
Turlough Hill (292 MW), operated by the ESB, is currently Ireland's only pumped-storage hydroelectricity plant. However, this is likely to change shortly and ECOFACT have worked on a number of these schemes currently being progressed in Ireland.
How many pumped storage hydropower facilities are there in Wicklow?
There is currently only one pumped storage hydropower facility, Turlough Hill, in County Wicklow. This facility, operated by the ESB, currently has the ability to go from idle to full power in the space of just 70 seconds, and its four turbines can generate in the region of 300MW of electricity.
Will Ireland develop more pumped storage hydroelectric capacity by 2030?
Ireland could develop an additional 360MW of pumped storage hydroelectric capacity by 2030 to mitigate security of supply concerns in relation to electricity.
How does a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant work?
The pumped-storage hydroelectric plant uses the hydrostatic water pressure at sea levels in the Irish Sea at a depth of 500 m. The plant could be fed from excess electricity generated by off-shore or, depending on the grid connection point and where available on-shore wind farms. A typical plant will have the following structure: