The Dlouhé Stráně pumped storage power plant in the Jeseníky Mountains celebrated its 30th anniversary this weekend. Commissioned in 1994, the plant is a crucial component of the Czech Republic’s energy infrastructure. Built with a 40-meter upper reservoir blasted into the Mravenečník mountain, it functions as a large-scale energy storage system. Current director Ludvík Štrobl discussed both the plant’s history and its future role in stabilizing the national power grid. The facility is prepared for potential grid disruptions and currently has the capacity to supply up to 200,000 households. Initial geological surveys for the project began in the 1960s, paving the way for this significant engineering achievement.