Čierny Váh: the invisible pillar of Slovakia’s energy sector

It is a project that shows the younger generation how things are made and where they come from. For us older generations, it also carries a certain sense of nostalgia – a reminder of how our fathers and grandparents worked. At the same time, it highlights the fact that many things are not automatic. We come home, switch on the light and it works, or we enjoy warmth in our homes – but that does not happen by itself.

That is exactly why we are involved with such enthusiasm: to show how energy is produced, who stands behind it, and what it takes to ensure that people have light, heat and a sense of security in their homes. In many cases, including within the Made in Slovakia project, we stand right at the very beginning of the entire process. Electricity flows from us to people, craftsmen and manufacturers, helping them to work more efficiently and create the final product – a product made in Slovakia.

Behind the operation of a pumped-storage power plant are upper and lower reservoirs, technological equipment such as motor-generators, turbines, pumps and extensive piping systems. However, all of this must be managed, monitored and controlled.For me, the most important element is people – professionals who ensure safe and reliable operation. There are dam engineers who look after the entire water structure, carry out regular inspections and measurements, such as seepage monitoring, to ensure the facility remains safe and does not pose any risk to surrounding communities. A pumped-storage power plant is the result of the coordinated work of many people whose shared goal is to serve the public reliably.

Pumped-storage power plants are a specific type of energy source in Slovakia and, in some cases, unique even on a European or global scale. In addition to Čierny Váh, Slovakia is also home to the Dobšiná pumped-storage power plant, which is still relatively unknown to the public. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that water from Palcmanská Maša is channelled beneath Dobšinský Hill into the Dobšiná Valley, effectively transferring water from the Hnilec River to the Slaná River.

Čierny Váh personally impressed me above all with its technical design. Few people know that the water conduits, before being divided into individual turbines and pumps, feature a so-called spherical branch junction, which is considered a world-class technical rarity. Engineers in former Czechoslovakia succeeded in creating something truly exceptional. Foreign experts who have come to see this solution have admitted that they have never encountered anything similar elsewhere. This is precisely what makes Čierny Váh stand out.

This is not easy, as we operate within protected zones of the fourth and fifth degree. That is why we pay even greater attention to ensuring that both the upper and lower reservoirs coexist harmoniously with nature. When you walk around them, you do not feel that they are artificial intrusions into the landscape – they appear natural, as if they have always belonged there.

Our aim is to continue along this path while working closely with state forestry authorities and various environmental organisations. Together, we focus on the maintenance and management of watercourses and reservoirs in a way that we can be proud of and that is sustainable in the long term.

If I knew exactly where the energy sector was heading, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today (laughs). At present, it is very difficult to predict its future development. What we do know is that Slovak power plants produce electricity without direct CO₂ emissions, while at the same time we are seeing a significant increase in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

This development creates a growing need for flexibility within the energy system, and this is where pumped-storage power plants play a crucial role. Slovenské elektrárne are therefore preparing a major investment project called Integrator. Its aim is to connect a pumped-storage power plant with a battery storage system with an output of 80 MW and a capacity of 160 MW, modernise existing turbogenerators and expand the regulation range of pump-turbine operation. At the same time, the project supports water retention in the landscape, which is extremely important for Slovakia.

The Integrator project also includes the world’s largest frequency converter, with a capacity of 100 MW, which will help regulate and control the rotational speed of the pumped-storage plant. We are very proud that this project has been awarded the status of a project of European significance. It is a great honour for Slovenské elektrárne, and above all for Slovakia.

Without wanting to offend any of my colleagues, that is a difficult question (laughs). Today, as we are standing at Čierny Váh, I would say it is this one. But the truth is that I feel the same connection to every single plant. I would not call it love, but rather responsibility and respect. I wish for each of them to thrive just as Čierny Váh does, and that is why every one of them has its place in my heart.