GE To Build 344 Megawatt Kokhav Hayarden Hydro Pumped Storage Station In Israel

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GE Renewable Energy has landed the contract to supply and build the 344-megawatt Kokhav Hayarden hydro pumped storage station in Israel, which is expected to help stabilize the country’s electricity grid.

On Tuesday, GE Renewable Energy revealed that it had booked a turnkey contract with Israeli utility Star Pumped Storage, in which GE will design, manufacture, supply, and install all the necessary electro-mechanical and hydro-mechanical equipment for the 344 MW (megawatt) Kokhav Hayarden hydro pumped storage station. GE will also complete a balance of plant for the two 172 MW pumped-storage units, as well as provide 20 years of operation and maintenance for the project.

The Kokhav Hayarden project will see development take 52 months, and involve the construction of two reservoirs, and is expected to be commissioned in 2021. The project is expected to provide much-needed stability to Israel’s electricity grid thanks to the project’s scale of production and flexibility. This stability will be further boosted by the neighboring Gilboa hydro power plant that GE is also building — a 300 MW project which is expected to be commissioned next year, entering service as Israel’s first ever pumped storage power station.

“Hydro pumped storage enables the integration of new renewable and intermittent energies to the grid,” said Yves Rannou, President & CEO of GE’s Hydro Solutions. “In Israel, where solar energy is booming, hydro pumped storage plants are critical to securing the stability of the grid. We are committed to providing world class technology and supporting our customer in operating the plant at its optimal level through its first 20 years of operation.”