FEN published the final report of PVPUMP!
How can a new pumped-storage hydropower plant support the Swiss energy transition?
We use a detailed model of the planned Lagobianco hydro cascade (data provided by Repower) and long-term price predictions (created with our tool FlexECO) to study the following aspects of this question:
- impact on Swiss import dependency during critical hours (ususally during winter),
- integration of PV-energy (today and with up to 40 GW of Swiss PV-capacity),
- economic benefit on a Swiss level,
- economic viability of the power plant.
In short, the power plant will bring significant benefit to the first three aspects (1.1 TWh less import dependency, 2.7 TWh more PV integration, 180 Mio CHF / year economic benefit to Switzerland), but currently lacks the economic viability without subsidy.