During a working trip to the Chernivtsi region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Dniester Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant, which is currently an integral part of the state’s energy strategy until 2030.
The power plant is unique as it operates in the "pump – turbine" mode and allows you to use the energy accumulated at night to generate electricity during peak loads on the grid.
The operation of this Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant is a powerful mechanism for regulating the balance of production and consumption of electricity in the power system of Ukraine, which improves the quality of electricity and its economic attractiveness to potential consumers in Europe.
During a visit to the power plant, the Head of State inspected three operating hydraulic units and erection zones, where the second stage of the Dniester Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant as part of the fourth hydraulic unit is being built.
The construction of the 4th hydraulic unit of the second stage of the Dniester Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. The capacity of its launch complex will be 421 MW in pump mode and 324 MW in generator mode.
The so-called rolling of the unit and the beginning of launch operations are expected in the near future.
"This year we plan to make the first launch of the unit on the Energy Worker’s Day. And in the first half of next year we are planning to put it into industrial operation," CEO of Ukrhydroenergo Ihor Syrota said.
According to him, the problem of raising the banks of the Dniester on the Moldovan side is currently unresolved. This requires negotiations with Moldova at the interstate level.
"The environmental side is agreed. There are no questions. There's more of a political side. They want to consider this issue in a complex," Ihor Syrota said.
The President of Ukraine promised to study this issue.
According to the preliminary plan, the construction of all hydraulic units is planned to be completed by 2028. While at the power plant, the Head of State discussed with the management the possibility of their faster completion.
"The complete construction of the Dniester Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant will increase the reliability of energy supply and expand the export potential of the state energy system. It is possible to maintain high-quality electricity to Moldova and Romania," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
