Pumped storage power plants for the integration of wind power and solar power

In a joint white paper, Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) and VERBUND, Austria’s leading electricity company, emphasise the importance of the energy-efficient collaboration between Germany and Austria. The two organisations particularly see a need for action in the further development of the transnational electricity market, in the improvement of the framework conditions for pumped storage and in expansion of the grid.

"Germany must be in close agreement with its neighbours in the energy turnaround," stressed Stephan Kohler, chairman of the dena management board, at the presentation of the white paper in Berlin. "With its pumped storage power plants, Austria is providing a building stone that is highly beneficial to Germany. Without powerful storage, Germany will be unable to fully integrate the increasing share of highly fluctuating electricity generation from wind and solar power plants."

"It is not only Germany, but rather the entire European electricity system that is facing great challenges with the energy turnaround," said Wolfgang Anzengruber chairman of the managing board of VERBUND. "Only together are we able to effectively face up to these challenges. If developed strategically, the German-Austrian energy partnership can also serve as a role model for the establishment of a single European energy market."