OREANDA-NEWS. On July 10, 2007 the project to build the Zagorskaya PSPP-2, Russia's second largest pumped-storage power plant, was launched by OAO "HydroWGC", reported the press-centre of RAO "UES of Russia".

The official ceremony to kick off the plant construction was attended by Moscow Region Governor Boris Gromov, Deputy Chairman of the Energy, Transport and Communications Committee at the Russian Federation State Duma Yuri Lipatov, and Chairman of the Management Board of RAO "UES of Russia" Anatoly Chubais.

The new power plant will be built near the existing Zagorskaya PSPP. It will have a design capacity of 840 MW. The investments in the project are estimated at RUB30 billion. The first 420 MW power unit will come on line at the Zagorskaya PSPP-2 in 2010, with the entire project scheduled for completion for 2012.

The Zagorskaya PSPP-2 is included in the Master Plan for the Location of Energy Facilities Until 2020 approved by the Government of the Russian Federation and in the RAO UES Investment Programme for 2006-2010.

The principle of operation of pumped-storage power plants makes them the most efficient means to control loads in the energy system. In the hours of lower electricity demand, the station's hydro generation units operate as pumps which lift water from the lower reservoir to the upper accumulating reservoir. During the peak load periods in the energy system – in the morning and in the evening – the PSPP operates as an ordinary hydroelectric power plant.

The issue of additional capacity deliveries during the peak loads is especially important for the energy system of Moscow City and the Moscow Region. Pumped-storage power plants increase the reliability of operation of the energy system and electricity supply by many times and help optimize loads on nuclear and major thermal power plants. Currently, there are about 400 PSPPs in the world.

The Zagorskaya PSPP-2 will be constructed by OAO "HydroWGC", a subsidiary of RAO "UES of Russia". Work is underway to develop a Programme of construction of pumped-storage power plants in Russia. Besides the Zagorskaya PSPP-2, it comprises the Leningradskaya PSPP, the Tsentralnaya PSPP, and a number of other power plants.