Vianden Pumped Storage Plant

Vianden Pumped Storage Plant
The plant's main pump-generator cavern
Official name	PSW Vianden (Pumpspeicherkraftwerk Vianden)
Country	Luxembourg
Location	Vianden
Coordinates	49°57′08″N 6°10′38″E / 49.95222°N 6.17722°E / 49.95222; 6.17722
Status	Operational
Construction began	1959
Opening date	1962-64/1976
Owner(s)	Société électrique de l'Our (SEO)/RWE
Operator(s)	SEO
Upper reservoir
Creates	Vianden Upper I & II
Total capacity	10,800,000 m3 (8,800 acre⋅ft)
Lower reservoir
Creates	Vianden Lower
Total capacity	7,230,000 m3 (5,860 acre⋅ft)
Power Station
Hydraulic head	291 m (955 ft) (max)
Pump-generators	9 x 100 MW (130,000 hp), 1 x 196 MW (263,000 hp) Francis pump-turbine
Pumps	9 x 70 MW (94,000 hp), 1 x 220 MW (300,000 hp)
Installed capacity	220 MW (300,000 hp)
Annual generation	1,650 GWh (5,900 TJ)[1]

The Vianden Pumped Storage Plant is located just north of Vianden in Diekirch District, Luxembourg. The power plant uses the pumped-storage hydroelectric method to generate electricity and serves as a peaking power plant. Its lower reservoir is located on the Our River, bordering Germany, and the upper is elevated above on the nearby Saint Nicholas Mountain. Construction on the plant began in 1959 and the first pump-generators were commissioned in 1962. A tenth pump-generator was installed in 1976 bringing the plant's installed generating capacity to 1,096 megawatts (1,470,000 hp). The plant generates an average of 1,650 gigawatt-hours (5,900 TJ) annually but of course consumes even more. Generally the efficiency of this energy storage method is around 70–80%. The plant is owned by Société électrique de l'Our and RWE. Construction on an eleventh pump-generator began in 2010 and it is expected to be commissioned in 2013, which will bring the plant's installed capacity to 1,296 megawatts (1,738,000 hp).