Żarnowiec Pumped Storage Power Station, Pumped-storage power station in Gmina Gniewino, Poland.
Żarnowiec Pumped Storage Power Station is an energy facility in Gmina Gniewino that moves water between Lake Żarnowiec and an elevated reservoir. The system uses four Francis pump-turbines to transport water through a 119-meter hydraulic system, storing and generating electricity as needed.
Construction of the facility began in 1973 as part of the national energy infrastructure program and was completed in 1983. Its opening marked a shift toward advanced energy storage methods in Poland.
The power station represents a turning point in Polish industrial engineering, marking the shift toward advanced energy storage solutions in the region.
The facility operates based on daily power demand: during peak hours water flows downward through turbines, and at night the system reverses to refill the upper storage. Visitors can view the site from outside, but should know it functions as an active industrial installation.
The system moves water between two completely different storage sources: a large natural lake at the bottom and an artificial reservoir built on the hillside above. This combination of natural and constructed elements makes it an unusual energy solution for central Europe.
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