The Goldisthal Pumped Storage Station is a
pumped-storage
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH), or pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), is a type of hydroelectric energy storage used by electric power systems for load balancing. The method stores energy in the form of gravitational potential ...
power station
A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electrical grid.
Many ...
in the Thüringer Mountains at the upper run of the river
Schwarza in
Goldisthal, Germany. It was constructed between 1997 and 2004. It has an installed capacity of , the largest hydroelectric power plant in Germany and one of largest in Europe.
[History and characteristics of Goldisthal pumped-storage power plant](_blank)
, VattenFall.com website, 6 February 2012. Retrieved October 2013.
Facility
The upper reservoir is located at an altitude of . It has an active (or usable) capacity of 12 million m³ and a surface area of 55 hectares. In order to create this basin, the mountain summit was cleared away. This stored quantity of water is enough for eight hours of operation. This corresponds to a maximally storable
electric power quantity of 8.5 GWh with the existing height difference between storage basins and turbines. Two 800 m long
penstock
A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that delivers water to hydro turbines and sewerage systems. The term is inherited from the earlier technology of mill ponds and watermills.
H ...
s, inclined at approximately 25 degrees serve as a conduit for water transfer. The lower reservoir has a capacity of . The power station contains four 265 MW
Francis pump turbine
The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts. Francis turbines are the most common water turbine in use today, and can achieve over 95% efficiency.
The proc ...
s.
Construction
From the outset of planning of this power station, it met with opposition and was contested with broad resistance from
environmental protection
Environmental protection is the practice of protecting the natural environment by individuals, organizations and governments. Its objectives are to conserve natural resources and the existing natural environment and, where possible, to repair dam ...
groups, in particular from the Green League. The project was first discussed in 1965 and in 1975 geological investigations were carried out. Planning was halted in 1980–1981 due to funding issues but was then resumed in 1988. Construction eventually began in 1997 and the first generators were commissioned in 2003. It was officially opened on 30 September 2003. In 2004, all four generators were commissioned. The construction costs amounted to 600 million euros.
See also
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Hydroelectricity in Germany
References
External links
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Goldisthal PSPSat Vattenfall
{{Authority control
Dams completed in 2004
Energy infrastructure completed in 2004
Pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations in Germany
Thuringian Forest