Hydro

RWE Innogy operates run-of-river and storage power stations with a total capacity of around 541 MW. These draw their energy from rivers, have a high water flow and can therefore work very reliably around the clock. There are 45 plants in Germany alone, such as on the Moselle, the Ruhr and the Saar. They produce about 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. This corresponds to the annual electricity needs of about 400,000 households. In the UK, we operate 17 such power plants. We also have hydropower plants in France, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland.

Further information about RWE Innogys hydro electric power stations

Expansion and modernisation

We see the potential for expansion particularly in Eastern Europe and Turkey. Furthermore, significant growth opportunities for us lie in the modernisation of existing plants and the improvement of their efficiency. We are working continuously on this. Measures for increasing efficiency are a worthwhile investment particularly in the field of hydropower, as hydropower plants have a lifespan of about 100 years. For example, the hydropower plants on the Moselle, which have been operating since the 1960s, have been modernised. The efficiency of the plants has been improved significantly as a result.

On the Upper Rhine – between Lake Constance and Basel – the Rheinkraftwerk Albbruck-Dogern AG (RADAG) power plant, in which RWE Innogy has a majority interest, has put into practice one of the largest hydropower projects in Germany. Since its commissioning in December 2009, a 24-megawatt run-of-river power station in Albbruck-Dogern supplements an existing plant. Thus the overall output of the site was increased to 104 megawatts. The generated power can fulfill the demand of the equivalent of 180,000 households a year. Coinciding with the establishment of the new run-of-river power station, the Old Rhine stretch was ecologically enhanced. The centerpiece is a natural water bypass that is up to 15 meters wide that also permits Salmon to swim upriver safely.