Dniester Pumped Storage Power Station
{{Short description|Dam in Chernivtsyi Oblast, Ukraine}}
{{Distinguish|Dniester Hydroelectric Station}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Dniester Pumped Storage Power Station
| name_official =
| image = Dnistro reservoir.jpg
| image_caption = Dniester reservoir
| image_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|48|30|49|N|27|28|24|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = Ukraine
| location = Sokyriany
| status = Partially operational
| construction_began = 1983
| opening = 2009–2028
| demolished =
| cost =
| owner = Government of Ukraine
| operator = Ukrhydroenergo
| res_name = Dniester Upper
| res_capacity_total = {{Convert|38800000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}
| lower_res_name = Dniester HPP-I Dam
| lower_res_capacity_total = {{Convert|70000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}
| plant_pumpgenerators =
| plant_turbines = 7 x 324 MW reversible Francis turbines
| plant_pumps =
| plant_hydraulic_head = {{Convert|38.7|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| plant_capacity = 1296 MW
| plant_capacity_factor =
| website = https://uhe.gov.ua/
| extra =
}}
The Dniester Pumped Storage Power Station is a pumped storage hydroelectric scheme that uses the Dniester River {{Convert|8|km}} northeast of Sokyriany in Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine. Currently, four of seven {{convert|324|MW|adj=on}} generators are operational and when complete in 2028,{{Cite web|title=President inspected the construction of the fourth hydraulic unit at the Dniester Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-proinspektuvav-budivnictvo-chetvertogo-gidroagrega-64213|access-date=14 November 2020|website=Official website of the President of Ukraine|language=en}} the power station will have an installed capacity of {{convert|2268|MW}}.
Background
As part of the Dniester Hydro Power Complex, the pumped storage power station (PSPS) was planned in the 1970s along with two dams (Dniester I & II) and a nuclear power plant. In 1983, Dniester II, a dam which creates the PSPS's lower reservoir, was completed. The PSPS was approved by 1988 and construction began that same year. Three years later in 1991 though, construction was suspended due to a funding fallout from the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The project was re-approved in 1993 and construction commenced again in 2001. Project costs increased due to the poor state of the existing facilities which were not maintained while the project was suspended.{{cite web|last=Shevchenko|first=Nadia|title=Dniester Pump Storage Plant: project risks|url=http://bankwatch.org/documents/DPSP_study_final.pdf|publisher=National Ecological Centre of Ukraine/ CEE Bankwatch Network|access-date=6 August 2011|author2=Viktor Melnichuk|author3=Olexiy Pasyuk|date=December 2006|archive-date=5 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005064246/http://bankwatch.org/documents/DPSP_study_final.pdf|url-status=dead}} On December 22, 2009, the PSP's first generator was commissioned.{{cite news|title=Tymoshenko launches the first unit of Dnister Hydroelectric Power Plant |url=http://en.for-ua.com/news/2009/12/23/162625.html |access-date=6 August 2011 |newspaper=ForUm |date=23 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711020407/http://en.for-ua.com/news/2009/12/23/162625.html |archive-date=11 July 2011 }} The second generator was commissioned in December 2013.{{cite web|title=Ukraine's Enhanced Hydropower Station Spearheads European Pumped Storage Power Facilities|url=http://wnu-ukraine.com/news/economy-business/?id=3787|publisher=World News Ukraine|access-date=17 January 2015|date=25 December 2013|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303044557/http://wnu-ukraine.com/news/economy-business/?id=3787|url-status=dead}} The third generator was commissioned on 21 December 2015.{{Cite web |url=http://zik.ua/news/2015/12/22/na_bukovyni_zapustyly_tretiy_gidroagregat_dnistrovskoi_gaes_656552 |title=На Буковині запустили третій гідроагрегат Дністровської ГАЕС |access-date=26 February 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304215437/http://zik.ua/news/2015/12/22/na_bukovyni_zapustyly_tretiy_gidroagregat_dnistrovskoi_gaes_656552 |url-status=dead }} Fourth generator was commissioned in July 2021.
Ukraine's problems funding the project have been compounded by controversy surrounding the project's transparency and impacts on the environment and water flow to Moldova downstream. Ukraine had sought funding from the World Bank who, in 2007, only funded US$29.6 million towards the PSP's electrical transmission system.{{cite web|title=Dniester Pumped Storage Plant, Ukraine|url=http://old.bankwatch.org/project.shtml?apc=330665-2213154---1&w=162059&s=1972478|publisher=BankWatch Network|access-date=6 August 2011}} Industry experts believe Ukraine will be able to complete the project independently.{{cite web|title=Ukraine decides to complete Dniester Hydro PSPS|url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/order/?id=210065|publisher=The National News Agency of Ukraine|access-date=6 August 2011}} The power station is expected to be fully operational in 2020s.{{cite web|title=Dniester PSPS will work at full capacity in 2017|url=http://zik.ua/ua/news/2011/04/26/284617|publisher=ZIK|access-date=6 August 2011|language=uk}}
Design and operation
The power station begins operation by using reversible turbines to pump water, during low energy demand periods, from the lower reservoir which is created by the Dniester HPP-II Dam, located {{Convert|7.5|km|mi|0}} to the southeast near the border with Moldova at {{Coord|48|29|16|N|27|34|07|E|name=Dniester HPP-II Dam}}. The lower reservoir has a storage capacity of {{Convert|70000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}. Water pumped from this reservoir is placed in the upper reservoir which is formed by a 360° "liver"-shaped embankment dam. The upper reservoir has a {{Convert|38800000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}} storage capacity. During periods of high energy demand, water is released from the upper reservoir back to the power station for generation. This process is routinely repeated and helps balance loads. The difference in the two reservoirs affords a hydraulic head of {{Convert|135|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.uhp.kharkov.ua/en/dniester_psp|title=Dniester HPSP|publisher=Ukrhydroproject PJSC|access-date=6 August 2011|archive-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921041539/http://uhp.kharkov.ua/en/dniester_psp|url-status=dead}}
While only 4 are currently operational, the power station will contain 7 324 MW reversible Francis turbine generators. Its installed capacity will be 2,268 MW when generating and during pumping, the power station will consume a maximum of 2,947 MW. Regulating flows into the lower reservoir is the Dniester HPP-I Dam which is located upstream, {{Convert|9|km}} north of the power plant at {{Coord|48|35|37|N|27|27|10|E|name=Dniester HPP-I Dam}}. HPP-I has its own power plant with an installed capacity of 702 MW and a storage capacity of {{Convert|3000000000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.uhp.kharkov.ua/en/dniester_hpp-1|title=Dniester HPP-1|publisher=Ukrhydroproject PJSC|access-date=6 August 2011|archive-date=9 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009183442/http://uhp.kharkov.ua/en/dniester_hpp-1|url-status=dead}} HPP-II has an installed capacity of 40.8 MW.{{cite web|url=http://www.uhp.kharkov.ua/en/dniester_hpp-2|title=Dniester HPP-2|access-date=6 August 2011|archive-date=7 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207090937/http://www.uhp.kharkov.ua/en/dniester_hpp-2|url-status=dead}}
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Ukraine|Water|Renewable energy}}}}
References
{{GeoGroup}}
{{reflist|33em}}
Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Ukraine
Category:Pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations in Ukraine
Category:Landmarks in Chernivtsi Oblast
Category:Buildings and structures in Chernivtsi Oblast
Category:State companies of Ukraine