Name of the Project
Gaildorf project.

Location
The project is located in Germany’s Swabian-Franconian Forest, on the Limpurger Berge uplands.

Client
Max Bögl Wind and Alexander Schechner.

Project Description
The project entails the construction of a combined wind and hydro power plant, which will comprise four wind turbines and a 16-MW-capacity pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant.

The wind turbine generators will be situated at a hub height of 178 m, while the lower 40 m of each tower and its surrounding area will be used as active water reservoirs to store energy.

At a total tip height of 246.5 m, the units, once installed, will become the tallest wind turbines in the world to date.

A nearby valley, about 200 vertical metres below the wind turbines, will house an additional lake and a 16-MW-capacity pump/generator hydroplant.

During times of peak demand and high electricity prices, the hydroplant will be in production mode. During times of low electricity demand and lower prices, the hydroplant will be in pump mode, pumping and storing water – and hence energy — in the upper reservoir for later use.

While the actual electricity produced by the wind turbines and the pumped-storage unit will feed the wider grid, the net effect will be to use the stored hydrocapacity to balance the intermittent nature of wind power through the optimal use of energy at different times of the day.

Jobs to be Created
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
The four wind turbines are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2017 and the full Gaildorf power plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2018.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
General Electric (turbine supply agreement).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Max Bögl Wind, tel +49 9181 9090, fax +49 9181 905061 and email info@max-boegl.de.