XFLEX Hydro

Frades 2 is a new 780 MW pumped storage hydropower plant in northern Portugal. Commissioned in 2017, the two generator sets are the largest and most powerful of their kind in Europe. Under XFLEX HYDRO, the site will demonstrate an innovative operating regime: hydraulic short circuit operation using variable speed units and smart controls to optimise power services onto the grid network, focusing on fast frequency services.

View our video about the Frades 2 project.

Objectives

Extend power range through integration of hydraulic short circuit technology for variable speed machines, and increase the potential of renewable dispatchable technologies;
Enhance high-quality flexibility services of the electric power system by implementing synthetic inertia and frequency containment reserve;
Improve the maintenance intervals and minimise outage times by optimising plant operation, using smart controls and mode change procedures;
Increase annual energy production by reducing auxiliary power load.

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Key Tasks

Initial studies
Adaptation – Smart Power Plant Supervisor (SPPS)
Implemetation of hydraulic short circuit operation, enhanced flexibility services and optimised plant operation including advanced monitoring and diagnosis of systems and components
Optimised auxiliary power consumption
Demonstration and operation
Results analysis and recommendations

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Partners involved in this demonstration

full-scale apllications

During the project, the flexibility technologies will be trialled at 7 demonstration sites. These are located at existing European hydropower stations. Each XFLEX HYDRO demonstration site will test a different technological configuration, installed together with the Smart Power Plant Supervisor in every case.

BATTERY/ TURBINE HYBRID

Vogelgrun is a 142 MW run-of-river hydropower plant in France, situated near the border with Germany along the river Rhine.

ENHANCED FIXED SPEED

Alto Lindoso is a 630 MW hydropower plant situated on the Lima river in Portugal. Caniçada is a 70 MW hydropower plant located in northern Portugal

HYDRAULIC SHORT CIRCUIT

Alqueva is a pumped storage scheme in southern Portugal that was built in two phases, Alqueva I and II, now totalling 520 MW.

HYDRAULIC SHORT CIRCUIT

Sitting in the French Alps, Grand'Maison is Europe’s largest pumped storage plant at 1,800 MW capacity.

VARIABLE SPEED (DFIM)

Frades 2 is a new 780 MW pumped storage hydropower plant in northern Portugal.

VARIABLE SPEED (FSFC)

Z’Mutt is a pumping station located in Canton Valais, Switzerland, and feeds water into the main reservoir of the Grande Dixence hydroelectric scheme.