Portugal Launches Iberian Peninsula’s First Wind-Hydro Hybrid Project

Lisbon / Bilbao – Spanish energy company Iberdrola has launched the Iberian Peninsula’s first grid-connected wind-hydro hybrid project with the commissioning of the Tâmega Norte wind farm in northern Portugal.

The wind farm is connected to a large pumped-storage hydropower plant and, together with a second wind farm currently under construction, forms the so-called Tâmega complex. The project demonstrates how renewable energy sources can be technically integrated in a way that allows them to complement and stabilise one another.

Hybrid Approach: Wind Power Meets Pumped Storage

The core principle of the Tâmega complex is the direct integration of wind energy and pumped-storage technology. Surplus wind power is used to pump water into a storage reservoir, while the stored energy can later be fed back into the grid when needed. This combination helps offset fluctuations in wind generation and improves predictability of power supply.

From a grid perspective, the hybrid approach offers additional advantages: the wind farm and pumped-storage facility share the same grid connection infrastructure, reducing costs and environmental impact while also enhancing grid stability.

About the Tâmega Norte Wind Farm: Key Figures and Technology

Tâmega Norte has an installed capacity of 195 MW, distributed across 27 Vestas wind turbines rated at 7.2 MW each and featuring a rotor diameter of 172 metres. Annual electricity generation is estimated at 414 GWh. The second wind farm, Tâmega Sul, is still under construction and is expected to provide an additional 185 GWh per year. Total investment in both wind farms amounts to EUR 346 million.

The complex is financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The project is owned by a joint venture between Iberdrola and Norges Bank, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, which will hold a 49 percent stake following commissioning.

Gouvães Pumped-Storage Plant: One of Europe’s Largest Facilities

The Gouvães pumped-storage hydropower plant forms the centrepiece of the Tâmega complex and ranks among Europe’s largest energy storage projects. With an installed capacity of 880 MW, it is Portugal’s most powerful pumped-storage facility and accounts for a significant share of the country’s overall capacity.

Within Portugal, Gouvães ranks among the country’s leading pumped-storage plants, alongside facilities such as Venda Nova III (746 MW), Alto Lindoso (630 MW), Alqueva (520 MW) and Aguieira (336 MW). While most of these facilities have relatively limited or not clearly specified energy storage capacities measured in hours, the Tâmega complex stands out with approximately 40 GWh of storage capacity. The complex comprises the three reservoirs of Gouvães, Daivões and Alto Tâmega and plays a key role in stabilising the electricity grid and integrating renewable energy sources across Portugal.

Source: IWR Online, 21 May 2026