# Switzerland’s new energy asset: hydro plant with capacity to charge 400,000 car batteries
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-08-05
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Switzerland unveils state-of-the-art hydropower plant for energy storage
Meta Description: Discover the new underground hydropower plant in Switzerland with capacity to charge 400,000 car batteries at once. Learn how it enhances energy stability in
URL: https://financedigest.com/switzerlands-new-energy-asset-hydro-plant-with-capacity-to-charge-400000-car-batterieshtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-08-05t094155z1lynxmpei740fyrtroptp4swiss-energy-1736815505088-compressed.jpg)

By Denis Balibouse

FINHAUT, Switzerland (Reuters) – Switzerland is adding a much needed cog in the wheel to its energy supply with an underground hydropower plant that says it has capacity to store enough electricity to charge 400,000 car batteries simultaneously.

Developers of the 2.2 billion Swiss franc ($2.30 billion) Nant de Drance plant in the canton of Valais, which came online in July, say the facility operates like a giant battery.

Its six turbines tucked in a cavern 600 metres below ground between the Emosson and Vieux Emosson reservoirs have capacity of 900 MW, making it one of the most [powerful pumped storage plants](https://www.financedigest.com/edpr-brings-iberias-first-wind-solar-power-plant-on-stream.html "EDPR brings Iberia’s first wind-solar power plant on-stream") in Europe.

During peak demand, Nant de Drance produces electricity from hydropower. But when output from sources such as wind and solar exceeds demand, the [plant stores the surplus electricity](https://www.financedigest.com/stellantis-to-invest-130-million-euros-in-german-plant-for-new-opel-electric-car.html "Stellantis to invest 130 million euros in German plant for new Opel electric car") by pumping water into the higher Vieux Emosson reservoir.

“In doing so, there are losses like any storage, but the yield is very good. We have about [80% efficiency over the complete cycle,” director Alain Sauthier told Reuters on a tour this week](https://www.financedigest.com/80-of-brits-admit-to-feeling-hangry-at-least-once-a-week.html "80% of Brits admit to feeling “hangry” AT LEAST once a week").

The plant, which has taken 14 [years to build](https://www.financedigest.com/lilium-aims-to-build-400-air-taxis-a-year-seek-grants.html "Lilium aims to build 400 air taxis a year, seek grants"), will be officially opened next month.

It takes less than five minutes to [switch from full pumping mode to full power generation](https://www.financedigest.com/sun-realm-switches-complicated-spreadsheet-reporting-for-ground-breaking-insight-solution-generating-time-savings-of-over-30.html "Sun Realm switches complicated spreadsheet reporting for ground breaking Insight solution generating time savings of over 30%"). At 360 cubic metres per second, the volume of water passing through its turbines corresponds to the summertime flow of the Rhone river through Geneva.

“The amount of energy that can actually be stored in this facility is simply gigantic, about 20 gigawatt hours,” Sauthier said. This means that with a full tank in Vieux Emosson, you can recharge 400,000 electric [car batteries](https://www.financedigest.com/scratched-ev-battery-your-insurer-may-have-to-junk-the-whole-car.html "Scratched EV battery? Your insurer may have to junk the whole car") simultaneously.

Typically the plant pumps water into storage in the afternoon, at night and on weekends, then generates power in the morning and evening when [prices are higher](https://www.financedigest.com/vhs-tapes-selling-for-46000-higher-than-original-price.html "VHS tapes selling for 46,000% higher than original price"), Sauthier said.

I would say it’s not only important for Switzerland, it’s also an important [plant at European level because it will contribute to the stability of the network in Europe and to the security of supply](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-uniper-to-restart-coal-fired-power-plant-as-gazprom-halts-supply-to-europe.html "Germany’s Uniper to restart coal-fired power plant as Gazprom halts supply to Europe") in Europe,” he said.

That is no mean feat at a time Switzerland faces rolling four-hour regional blackouts should [Europe’s energy crisis lead to winter](https://www.financedigest.com/europe-experienced-second-warmest-winter-on-record.html "Europe experienced second-warmest winter on record") power shortages.

($1 = 0.9570 [Swiss francs)](https://www.financedigest.com/swiss-franc-grapples-with-safe-haven-identity-crisis-after-credit-suisse.html "Swiss franc grapples with safe-haven identity crisis after Credit Suisse")

(Writing by Michael Shields; Editing by Susan Fenton)


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---