Austria’s Andritz to supply South Korean 500 MW pumped storage power plant

A significant contract to provide essential parts and services for the 500 megawatt (MW) Yeongdong pumped storage power plant in South Korea has been awarded to Austria's engineering and technology business Andritz AG. This project represents a significant turning point for the country's renewable energy infrastructure.

The state-owned utility Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), the nation's biggest power producer, and South Korean industrial company Doosan Enerbility are working together to create the 500 MW Yeongdong facility in Chungcheong Province.

The project had its groundbreaking ceremony last April, according to local press reports. At the time, it was revealed that the facility will be constructed on a 1.18 million square meter plot of land, with project expenses exceeding KRW 503 billion ($343 million).

This project is the first large-scale pumped storage project in South Korea in more over 10 years, and it is part of the country's larger plan to improve grid stability and incorporate increasing amounts of intermittent renewable energy, like solar and wind. By 2037, Seoul intends to construct about 5.7 gigawatts (GW) of pumped storage capacity.

Similar to enormous "water batteries," pumped storage facilities employ extra power to pump water uphill into a reservoir during times of low electricity demand. When demand increases, the water is discharged back down to spin turbines and produce electricity. As additional renewable energy sources are incorporated into grids, this makes the technology especially valuable.

When finished, the Yeongdong pumped storage project will significantly improve the flexibility and dependability of South Korea's electrical system.

The facility will assist in mitigating fluctuations in power supply and demand by storing and releasing energy in response to demand fluctuations. This is a crucial role as the proportion of renewable generation keeps growing.