A 34-ton turbine runner from a pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, donated by Iberdrola España, is installed on one of the new roundabouts on Cáceres' Southern Ring Road

The five-meter-diameter component could move 4.9 million litres of water per minute and was in service for almost six decades
It showcases engineering excellence and highlights the importance of hydroelectric generation and energy storage in the Tagus River basin in the province of Cáceres

Hydroelectric power

Five people posing next to a renewable energy installation in an outdoor industrial area.

One of the new roundabouts on the Ronda Sur in Cáceres, Extremadura

A 34-ton turbine runner, donated by Iberdrola España to the Regional Government of Extremadura, has been installed on one of the new roundabouts along Cáceres' Southern Ring Road, which opened to traffic yesterday. The piece is being displayed as an example of the region's industrial and hydroelectric heritage.

The turbine runner is a historic component from one of the pumped-storage hydroelectric facilities located in the Tagus River basin as it passes through Extremadura. It measures five meters in diameter and 2.14 meters in height. It was capable of moving around 4.9 million litres of water per minute, equivalent to approximately 82,000 litres per second.

The component belonged to a reversible Francis turbine manufactured by NEYRPIC in 1966. Made of carbon steel, it remained in operation from that year until 2024, completing around 58 years of service in hydroelectric power generation and energy storage. The turbine runner was responsible for capturing the force of the water and converting its energy into mechanical motion to drive the electric generator and produce electricity. It also operated in reverse mode, pumping water back to the upper reservoir for storage.

Its technical characteristics reflect the scale and complexity of Extremadura's hydroelectric infrastructure, which has contributed to the supply of renewable energy for decades. Since Monday, it has stood on one of the roundabouts along the Cáceres bypass as a tribute to Extremadura's long-standing hydroelectric tradition.

Donation from Iberdrola España to the Regional Government of Extremadura

Iberdrola España donated the turbine runner to the Regional Government of Extremadura with the aim of preserving it and making it accessible to residents and visitors alike. Its chosen location, next to the park on Calle de La Calzada, integrates this industrial component into a highly visible public space with significant traffic flow.

As Iberdrola España points out, the former turbine runner has been transformed from an operational component into a permanent reminder of the evolution of engineering and power generation in the Tagus River basin as it passes through Extremadura, reinforcing the connection between hydroelectric activity, the region's industrial heritage and the development of the communities where Iberdrola España operates.

The initiative forms part of the Hydro Coexistence Plan (Plan Convive Hidro), which promotes collaboration, community engagement and integration in the areas where Iberdrola operates. In the Tagus River basin, the plan includes social, environmental, educational and heritage initiatives.

A 34-ton turbine runner from a pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, donated by Iberdrola España, is installed on one of the new roundabouts on Cáceres' Southern Ring Road

A 34-ton turbine runner from a pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, donated by Iberdrola España, is installed on one of the new roundabouts on Cáceres' Southern Ring Road

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