OREANDA-NEWS. PJSC RusHydro (ticker symbol: MOEX, LSE: HYDR; OTCQX: RSHYY) has today inaugurated the 140 MW Zelenchukskaya hybrid hydropower plant (combining conventional hydropower generation and pumped storage capabilities) in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic in the North Caucasus region in the South of Russia.

The commissioning of the plant will allow the Republic to source up to 45% of its electricity needs from locally produced electricity.

Due to its two reversible hydropower units, Zelenchukskaya plant’s functions both as a hydropower plant and a pumped storage hydropower facility. During night hours the hydropower units pump water into the regulation pool, and in peak hours – in the morning and daytime – the units switch to generation mode and use water from the regulation pool to produce electricity.

Zelenchukskaya HPP-PSHPP – is a unique hydropower plant with working heads of 220–230 meters. The plant is equipped with two reversible hydropower units (with capacity of 160 MW and 140 MW in pump and generating mode respectively). Planned long-run average output is 162 GWh per year.