The Innovative Gaildorf Wind-Water Project Guarantees Reliability of Power Supply

Abstract

This chapter presents a pilot project, which is an innovative solution related to renewable energy sources (RES). It refers to the integrated system that covers a wind farm (4×3, 4 MW) and a pumped hydro storage PHS (16 MW). Environmental conditions and components of the system were characterised in structural and operational terms. The wind turbines that are part of the system are of considerable height (one of them is even the highest turbine in the world). This is partly the result of the hybrid construction of their towers. Around the bases, there are Bains, which function as a short-term energy storage with the total capacity of 160,000 m3 of water. The turbines were installed 200 m above sea level, and this also has a positive impact on their operational parameters. The short-term energy storage is connected with the long-term energy storage located in a valley by means of a pipeline. The response time for switching between the energy generation and storage functions is 30 s. The innovative nature of the project is determined by the short-term energy storage. The investment is fully automated. The hybrid power plant began its operation in 2018.