The Role of Pumped Storage in the Integration of Renewable Energies: Planning the Expansion of Electricity Generation on Santiago Island, Cabo Verde

I. Lima(1), B. González-Díaz(2), A. Costa(3) 1. International Interuniversity Master Degree in Energy Decarbonization in Emerging Countries, University of La Laguna and University of Cabo Verde (Spain and Cabo Verde). 2. Department of Industrial Engineering, Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología, 38200 La Laguna. S/C de Tenerife (Spain) 3. University of Cabo Verde. Campus do Palmarejo Grande, C.P. 379-C Praia, Santiago (Cabo Verde)   2025-07-25

Abstract

The growing demand for electricity and the urgent need to mitigate climate change have driven countries towards a decarbonized path, increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the power mix. However, the intermittent nature of wind and solar power poses challenges to grid stability and security of supply, requiring innovative solutions such as energy storage. Hydropower, particularly pumped storage systems, can play an important role by storing renewable electricity excess and stabilizing the grid, thereby supporting higher renewable energy penetration.

The island Santiago, Cabo Verde, is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with 87.2% of its electricity coming from thermal sources in 2023. Cabo Verde’s 2018–2040 Power Sector Master Plan aims to achieve of more than 50% renewable energy penetration by 2030 and 100% by 2040. Key initiatives include the expansion of wind and solar capacity and the implementation of energy storage solutions. Among these, the 20 MW/160 MWh pumped storage project, and a 9.4 MW/5.5 MWh battery storage system are expected to improve grid stability and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

This study evaluates the impact of integrating renewable energy and storage solutions into Santiago’s power system by modeling different scenarios for 2030 using the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) software. Preliminary results suggest that pumped storage can significantly increase the share of renewable energy in the power mix, improve energy supply reliability, reduce carbon emissions, and facilitate the energy transition in Santiago island’s power system.

Key words: pumped storage, renewable energy integration, energy planning, simulation, Santiago Island.

References

[1] Ali, Q., & Zaighum, I. "Employing Renewable Energy to Promote Sustainable Economic Growth: An Analysis of the Effects of Investment on Developing Countries." Qlantic Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 5, no. 4, 2024. DOI: 10.55737/qjss.799101535.

[2] Akintayo, O. K., Longe, O. M., & Oni, O. E. "Renewable Energy Integration Impact on Power Quality of Supply of Transmission System." Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, vol. 8, no. 13, 2024, p. 7836. DOI: 10.24294/jipd7836.

[3] Apor, V., Vokony, I., & Juhász, K. P. "Impact of Renewable Energy Generation on the Stability of Power Systems." 2024, pp. 1–4. DOI: 10.1109/iyce60333.2024.10634964.

[4] Kathad, S. K., & Pandya, D. J. "Virtual Inertia Evaluation for Frequency Instability in Renewable Energy Integration." Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, vol. 37, no. 1, 2024, p. 380. DOI: 10.11591/ijeecs.v37.i1.pp380-388.

[5] Sun, W., Wang, Y., Ren, P., & Harrison, G. "Energy System Flexibility." 2024, pp. 124-136. DOI: 10.4337/9781035307494.00015.

[6] Kabeyi, M. J. B., & Olanrewaju, O. A. "Hydropower in the Sustainable Energy Mix." 2023. DOI: 10.46254/au02.20230247.

[7] ARME - Tarifas e Preços. (s.f.). ARME - Agência de Regulação Multissectorial da Economia. https://www.arme.cv/index.php?option=com_jdownloads&view=category&catid=38&Itemid=779

[8] ELECTRA SA. "Relatório e Contas 2015 - 2023." Available at:https://www.bcv.cv/pt/Supervisao/Mercado%20de%20Capitais/Sistema/Emitentes/

Presta%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20de%20Contas/Paginas/RCELECTRA.aspx.

[9] Prequalification Phase - Design And Build For The Santiago Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project. "Energias Renováveis Cabo Verde." Available at: https://www.energiasrenovaveis.cv/concurso-psp-1.

[10] Heaps, C.G., 2022. LEAP: The Low Emissions Analysis Platform. [Software version: 2024.2.0.3] Stockholm Environment Institute. Somerville, MA, USA. https://leap.sei.org

[11] INE (Org.). (2024). Anuário Estatístico – Cabo Verde 2022. Instituto Nacional de Estatística. https://ine.cv/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/aecv-2022-versao-final-corrigido.pdf

[12] Sector Energético. (s.d.). Portal De Energia Cabo Verde. https://www.portalenergia.cv/setorenergetico

[13] Cabeólica (Org.). (2023). Relatório & Contas 2023. https://cabeolica.com/relatorio-e-contas/

[14] Plano Estratégico Sectorial de Energias Renováveis – PESER, Resolução n.º 7/2012. (2025). Governo de Cabo Verde. Available at: https://kb-wordpress.gov.cv/kb/resolucao-no-7-2012-plano-estrategico-sectorial-de-energias-renovaveis-peser/.

[15] Plano Diretor de Energia 2018-2040 de Cabo Verde, Resolução n.º 39/2019. (2025). Governo de Cabo Verde. Available at: https://kb-wordpress.gov.cv/kb/resolucao-no-39-2019/.

[16] IRENA (2017). Electricity Storage and Renewables: Costs and Markets to 2030. International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi. ISBN 978-92-9260-038-9. Disponível em: https://www.irena.org/publications

[17] IRENA (2024). Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2023. International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi. ISBN 978-92-9260-621-3. Disponível em: https://www.irena.org/publications

[18] IEA (2022). World Energy Outlook 2022. International Energy Agency, Paris. Disponível em: https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2022