DOE Global Energy Storage Database

The Niederwartha plant was one of the first pumped storage power plants realized on a large scale. Niederwartha was built from 1927 to 1930 and has a rated output of 120 megawatts, which can be generated by six Francis-type machine sets. Four of them, however, are currently shut down, leaving the plant's operational rated power at 40 MW. The plant was damaged by an Elbe River flood in August 2002. Starting in November 2003, it was gradually put into operation again. Only two turbines have come back online because the other turbines' transformers are defective. Instead of repairing the machinery, it is planned to replace the outdated technology with only one turbine of 120 MW.