Potential Sites for New Pumped Hydropower Storage in Thuringia

Dr. Stefan P. Schmid

Job Definition

• State of the Art for Pumped Hydropower Storage

• Assessment Criteria

• Identification and Assessment of Potential Sites for New Pumped Hydropower Storage

a. at completely new Sites

b. using existing sites

Hohenwarte II (Source: Hydroprojekt) Schmalwasser Dam (Source: Hydroprojek)t

Methodology for Identification of New Sites

Identification of Sites:

Relief Analysis

Basic Requirements for New Sites: Basic Requirements for Locations at

Existing Dams:Medium

Head

[m]

Installed

Capacity

[MW]

Operating

Time

under Full

Load

min. max. min. [h]

180 5000 200 8

Horizontal

Distance

[m]

Medium

Head

[m]

Installed

Capacity

[MW]

Operating

Time

under Full

Load

min. bis min. [h]

100 5000 50 6

Horizontal

Distance

[m] Data Basis:© GeoBasisDE / TLVermGeo , Gen.-Nr.: 20/2011

� Vertical and Horizontal

Distance

� Minimal Area

� Levelness of Terrain

Identification of Sites:Exclusion criteria

1. Residential Areas

(red)

2. Special Areas of Conservation

(Natura 2000, green)

3. Geologically unsuitable Areas

(brown)

Geodata Basis:© GeoBasisDE / TLVermGeo , Gen.-Nr. :20/2011

Identification of Sites: Assessment Criteria

1. Topography - Vertical Distance (Head)

- Usable Water Volume

- Form and Flatness of Upper Basin

- Horizontal Distance

- Area Required

2. Geology - Stability

- Permeability

- Suitability for Excavation

3. Hydrology - Relation of Water Supply to Stored Water Volume

4. Grid Connection - Distance to High Voltage Grid

5. Existing Landuse - Existing Infrastructure

- Single yards

- Streets

- Railways

- Pipelines

- Airport, Airfield

- Military Area

- Sites of Cultural Heritage

6. Environment - SPA

- Nature Reserve

- Natural Monuments

- Biosphere Reserve

- Water Protection Areas

- Landscape Protection Area

- National Park

Identification of Sites: Assessment Scenarios

Selection of Sites with favorite Rankings independent of Scenario

Identification of Sites

Close Examination

1. Modelling of Dams and Reservoirs

• Dam Length and Height

• Reservoir Volume, usable Water Volume

2. Visual Check

• Dam realistic?

• Other Reasons for Exclusion (Quarry in Action, Railways in Narrow Valley)?

• Connection between Upper and Lower Basin feasible?

Analysis of Existing Dams

� 191 Dams in the Dam

Register of Thuringia

� 26 Dams with Retaining Capacity of more than 2

Mio. m³ (without

Hohenwarte II and

Goldisthal)

� 3 suited as Lower

Reservoirs for Pumped Hydropower Storage:

- TS Schmalwasser

- TS Weida

- TS Hohenleuben Geobasisdaten:© GeoBasisDE / TLVermGeo , Gen.-Nr. :20/2011

Results

Geodata Basis:© GeoBasisDE / TLVermGeo , Gen.-Nr. :20/2011

Sites at existing Dams

New Sites

Current Project Experience:

Modeling of Dams1. Levelness Criteria

2. Scetch of Possible

Dam Locations

2. Intersection with Terrain Model, Volume

Calculation

Current Project Experience: Data Sources

Terrain Model State Survey Data High Quality

Expensive for Private Clients

Satellite Data (e.g.

SRTM)

SRTM only suitable for large-scale-

Studies

Residential Areas Corine Landcover Not Suitable for German middle

range mountains

DLM (State) High Quality, affordable

Streets and Infrastructure Open Street Map Streets: Classification incomplete

Infrastructure incomplete

DLM (State) High Quality, affordable

Reserves / Protection Areas Data Holder and Accessability different in every State

Grid Regional Planning Autorities

Energy Supplier

Residential Areas: Corine Data versus Digital Landscape Model

Thank You for Your Attention!