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!
