EnBW to invest in hydropower and pumped storage in Forbach
Published by Jessica Casey,
Editor
Energy Global,
The way is clear for the conversion and expansion of the Rudolf Fettweis hydropower plant in the northern Black Forest. EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG has made the investment decision for the Forbach pumped storage power plant/new lower reservoir project. Over the next few years, the existing conventional storage power plant will be modernised and turned into a high-capacity pumped storage power plant. The total cost of this major project is approximately €280 million. Construction will start in autumn 2023 at the earliest, with completion expected by the end of 2027.
“EnBW has a clear generation strategy focused on the accelerated expansion of renewables and achieving climate neutrality by 2035. To accomplish this, we require additional dispatchable capacity and storage reservoirs that can quickly deliver electricity on demand and ensure stable grid operation,” said Georg Stamatelopoulos, Chief Operating Officer Sustainable Generation Infrastructure. “The new pumped storage power plant in Forbach aligns perfectly with these objectives, making it an ideal and essential complement to the expansion of our renewable generation capacity.”
Following an extensive planning approval process led by the regional authorities in Karlsruhe, the complex project has successfully obtained approval. Every aspect of the project underwent close scrutiny, backed by comprehensive documentation and expert reports. After more than five years of intensive work by numerous experts and sectoral authorities, the Karlsruhe regional administration issued the plan approval notice on 1 March 2023.
Administration President, Sylvia M. Felder, commented: “I am pleased that the Forbach hydropower site is being retained and transformed into to a dedicated pumped storage power plant. This is a significant contribution to the success of the energy transition. Pumped storage power plants represent a vital means of energy storage and are indispensable for renewable energies.”
Robert Stiebler, Mayor of Forbach, added: “We are delighted that this project will be realised at Forbach. Hydropower has a long history here and securing its future in our district is a great signal for us and EnBW as we embrace the energy transition.”
The heart of the new plant will be the powerhouse, integrated into the hillside to accommodate the power plant technology. This includes a pump turbine for the Schwarzenbach power plant, capable of generating approximately 54 MW in turbine mode and 57 MW in pump mode, enabling water transfer from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir as needed. The new powerhouse will also contain the new power plant technology for the Murg plant, including three Francis turbines with a total output of approximately 23 MW.
During the construction of the new pumped storage power plant, the existing Forbach equalisation basin will also be expanded with the addition of a cavern water reservoir in the adjacent hillside. This will serve as the lower reservoir for the future pumped storage power plant, collecting water channelled from the upper reservoir – the Schwarzenbach dam – to drive the power plant’s turbines and generate electricity.
For more news and technical articles from the global renewable industry, read the latest issue of Energy Global magazine.
Energy Global's Spring 2023 issue
The Spring 2023 issue of Energy Global hosts an array of technical articles focusing on offshore wind, solar technology, energy storage, green hydrogen, waste-to-energy, and more. This issue also features a regional report on commodity challenges facing Asia’s energy transition.
Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/energy-storage/16052023/enbw-to-invest-in-hydropower-and-pumped-storage-in-forbach/
You might also like
GOLDBECK SOLAR to build solar park for Eneco Solar
GOLDBECK SOLAR has been contracted to build the Kabeljauwbeek ground-mounted solar plant in the Netherlands for Eneco Solar.