In this edition of the LLC, organised by the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering, the topic under discussion is the role of dams in the energy transition. We spoke to Luís Capinha, an engineer at Iberdrola, about how hydroelectric power and complexes such as the one on the River Tâmega are fundamental pillars for ensuring the stability and flexibility of our electricity system in the face of the growth of solar and wind energy.
The pumped-storage system has changed the paradigm: water no longer flows in just one direction. Now, it functions as a genuine "green battery", storing energy during periods of lower consumption to release it when the system needs it most.
“We pump the water upwards during the day, from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir, and we generate power mainly at the start of the day and at the end of the day when there is no longer any natural light,” explains Luís Capinha.

In this second episode of the official podcast, António Batista, Chairman of the Organising Committee, emphasises that the aim of the event is to promote a wide-ranging and multidisciplinary discussion, involving society, academia and industry. The conference comes at a critical juncture, when the challenges of managing intermittent renewable sources, such as solar and wind power, highlight the need for energy storage solutions – a role in which cascade hydroelectric schemes and pumped-storage systems are key to ensuring the balance and security of the electricity grid.