Pumped Storage Hydro

Uniper to recommission 160 MW Happurg pumped-storage plant

Uniper to recommission 160 MW Happurg pumped-storage plant
(photo courtesy Uniper)

Uniper has decided to recommission a 160 MW pumped storage plant in Happurg, Germany, that was shut down in 2011.

The company is investing around €250 million (US$271.4 million) in reliable energy infrastructure in Bavaria. Uniper is making a significant contribution to the energy transition and is continuing its corporate transformation toward more renewable energy generation, according to a release. By storing energy, the plant will contribute to greater security of supply in southern Germany.

“This investment is part of our previously announced strategy to invest in growth and transformation towards a greener business. We want 80 percent of our generation capacity to be carbon neutral by 2030, and the Happurg pumped storage plant will be an important strategic part of that,” said Michael Lewis, chief executive officer of Uniper. “But there is more, Uniper is starting where the energy transition often reaches its limits: in the reliability of power generation. Especially in southern Germany, with its strong industrial demand, there is a lack of predictable power plant capacity. With the Happurg pumped-storage plant, we want to make more storage capacity available again.”

The Happurg plant has a drop height of 209 meters and can store about 850 MWh of electricity, making it the largest pumped storage plant in Bavaria.

The plant was shut down in 2011 as a precautionary measure due to localized damage at the base of the upper reservoir. Intensive subsoil investigations and geotechnical assessments have been carried out and remediation approaches have been examined. Based on these findings, a feasibility study was conducted to develop and refine a technical concept for the rehabilitation of the upper basin, which will allow the plant to be restarted economically. This concept was reviewed and approved by the District Office of Nuremberg as part of a planning approval procedure. As part of the project, the equipment in the powerhouse will also be overhauled.

Construction work will start immediately and the Happurg pumped storage plant is anticipated to be back in operation in 2028.

“Pumped storage is by far the most proven large-scale energy storage technology. They are emission-free, inherently sustainable and make an important contribution to grid stability and security of supply – enabling the integration of fluctuating solar and wind power and thus paving the way for the energy transition. … The energy transition is a project that can only succeed with the cohesion of society as a whole. Everyone has set a good example and made this business investment possible,” said Klaus Engels, director hydropower, Uniper.

Uniper said hydropower is the foundation of its CO2-free power generation and an integral part of its DNA. The company has more than 125 years of experience as a hydropower operator and, with an installed capacity of almost 2,000 MW, is Germany’s largest producer of electricity from hydropower. Uniper operates more than 100 run-of-river, storage and pumped storage power stations. Together, these power stations generate around 5 billion kWh per year – enough electricity to meet the annual needs of more than 1.6 million households and avoid the emission of around 2.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. These plants and power stations provide a range of additional benefits, from flood protection to grid stability and water purification. A central control room at the German hydropower headquarters ensures that the power stations work together to meet demand.

Uniper is an international energy company with activities in more than 40 countries. Uniper’s operations encompass power generation in Europe, global energy trading, and a broad gas portfolio. Uniper intends to be completely carbon-neutral by 2040. Uniper aims for its installed power generating capacity to be more than 80% zero-carbon by 2030.