Highlights
- The Alto Tâmega hydroelectric power plant won a prize in the Dams and Hydropower Production category
- With an installed capacity of 1,158 MW and up to 40 GWh of energy storage, the Tâmega electricity generating system is the largest investment in renewable energy in Portugal in the last three decades
- The awards will be presented during the 17th Water Congress, which will take place from 8 to 11 April in Lagos, Algarve
Iberdrola was awarded the Portuguese Water Resources Association (APRH) Hydraulic Projects prize for the presentation of the Tâmega electricity generation system, which won first place in the Dams and Hydropower Production category. This distinction confirms the excellence and innovation of one of the largest hydroelectric projects carried out in Europe in the last three decades, consolidating Iberdrola's position as a benchmark in the sector in Portugal.
The APRH Award for Hydraulic Projects aims to recognise and reward the originality and overall quality of single or multi-purpose hydraulic infrastructures for the development or control of water resources and the management or rehabilitation of aquatic environments.
The Tâmega hydroelectric complex in northern Portugal is one of the largest energy initiatives in the country's history and one of the largest energy storage facilities in Europe.
Rafael Chacón, director of the Alto Tâmega project, said that "the Alto Tâmega hydroelectric complex is a 100% greenfield project led by Iberdrola and developed from scratch by an interdisciplinary team of more than 100 specialists, highlighting the company's leading role in hydropower. This award recognises not only Iberdrola's enormous technical, business and financial capacity, but also its fundamental role in the transition towards a sustainable energy model through renewable energy storage".
Vítor Afonso, Alto Tâmega's operations manager, stresses that "the Gouvães pumping station, which is part of Alto Tâmega, is a plant that offers a lot of flexibility, and can go from pumping 880 MW to generating 880 MW in a few minutes, which is essential to ensure reliable energy supply in a decarbonised electricity system, where the wind and photovoltaic contribution can fluctuate by several thousand MW in a few hours".
The award will be presented by the Portuguese Water Resources Association during the 17th Water Congress, which will take place from 8 to 11 April 2025 in Lagos, Algarve. Prior to the official award ceremony, the APRH will visit the plant to install a plaque commemorating the Hydraulic Projects award. This action underlines the association's recognition of the project's impact, considered a milestone in the hydroelectric sector and energy sustainability in Portugal.
Tâmega Hydroelectric Complex
The Tâmega hydroelectric power plant is one of the largest hydroelectric projects in Europe in the last 25 years. With a total investment of more than 1.5 B, it consists of three power plants: the Alto Tâmega hydroelectric power plant, with an installed capacity of 160 MW, the Gouvães pumped storage power plant (880 MW) and the Daivões power plant (118 MW). The latter two have been in operation since 2022.
The Gouvães reversible hydropower plant, with its pumping capacity that turns it into a gigabattery, can store up to 20 GWh of renewable energy at peak production times and use it later when demand is higher and intermittent energy sources such as solar and wind cannot be relied on.
The three plants have an installed capacity of 1,158 MW and an annual production capacity of up to 1,766 GWh, enough to meet the energy needs of neighbouring municipalities, as well as the cities of Braga and Guimarães (440,000 households). In addition, this renewable infrastructure has a storage capacity of up to 40 million kWh, equivalent to the energy consumed by 11 million people over 24 hours in their homes.
The Tâmega plant will eliminate the emission of 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 a year and diversify production sources, preventing the import of more than 160,000 tonnes of oil a year. The positive impact on the region has activated the economy, creating up to 3,500 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect ones throughout its construction, 20% of which will come from neighbouring municipalities, through more than 100 suppliers, 75 of them Portuguese.
