Vattenfall is upgrading solar facilities at a pumped hydro storage scheme in Germany and examining other opportunities for photovoltaic projects at similar plants.
The Swedish company is to repower solar modules at the Geesthacht pumped storage project on the Elbe near Hamburg in Schleswig-Holstein, as well as add further PV capacity.
It is also exploring similar ‘PV@hydro’ opportunities at pumped storage facilities in Wendefurth in Saxony-Anhalt, Hohenwarte in Thuringia and Markersbach in Saxony.
Modules could be located on the dams, roofs and previously unused open spaces at the hydro plants, Vattenfall said.
Vattenfall solar and batteries business head Claus Wattendrup said: “We find very good conditions for the construction of photovoltaic systems at the pumped storage facilities.
“The use of the existing technology leads to synergies, which can also promote the profitability of such projects. In this respect, PV@hydro is an excellent example of how the existing and the new energy world can be combined within the scope of the energy transition in Germany.”
Vattenfall aims to have about 30MW of new PV installed in Europe this year and is planning to invest €100m in solar developments in 2018 and 2019.
Image: Vattenfall
Vattenfall unveils PV/hydro hybrid
By EBS