The Salto de Chira pumped storage plant from Redeia - 200 MW backup for Spain’s islands

Reviewed: ad hoc news New Release & Launch desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-23, 02:24. Details in the imprint.

Salto de Chira pumped storage plant from Redeia looks almost quiet from the rim of the upper reservoir, just the wind over the water and a low hum from the powerhouse carved into the rock. Yet this complex is built to push up to 200 MW into the Canary Islands grid when local demand spikes and wind drops.

How Salto de Chira works

At its core, Salto de Chira is a classic pumped storage scheme: two reservoirs at different heights, reversible turbines, and a control system that constantly watches the island’s load curves. When Gran Canaria has excess wind or solar, water is pumped uphill instead of wasting the surplus.

When demand rises or generation falls, valves open and water rushes down again, driving turbines that convert this stored energy into electricity. The sensation underground, as described by engineers during guided tours, is a consistent vibration through the concrete floor when the generators ramp up.

Storage, capacity and grid role

The project’s planned capacity of around 200 MW is paired with multiple hours of storage, making Salto de Chira effectively a large water-based battery for Gran Canaria. That buffer is designed to absorb rapid swings as clouds pass over solar parks or gusts change along the coast.

Redeia’s engineers see the plant as a tool to reduce the island’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. Instead of firing up oil-fired generators whenever demand shifts, grid operators can rely on stored water, which responds faster and with cleaner, more predictable costs.

Local impact and political scrutiny

Redeia chair Beatriz Corredor has positioned Salto de Chira as part of a broader decarbonization roadmap for Spain’s non-mainland systems, stressing that the project should enable more renewables on the island without compromising stability. Environmental groups have still questioned the visual impact of new reservoirs and high-voltage lines.

Residents describe mixed feelings: some welcome the jobs and the cleaner air promise, while others see new access roads and towers cutting across familiar ravines. For investors, that tension is a reminder that every major infrastructure build must balance grid security with local acceptance.

Where Redeia shares fit in

For Redeia, Salto de Chira sits within a regulated asset base, meaning revenues are tied to allowed returns rather than spot power prices. That makes the project more about predictable cash flows and long-dated depreciation schedules than short-term trading gains.

Redeia shares (ISIN ES0173093024) trade primarily in Madrid, and long-lived grid projects like Salto de Chira are one reason many investors view the company as a steady infrastructure utility rather than a cyclical power producer.

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