After what have been described as difficult negotiations with VEAG of Germany, the Goldisthal Hydro Consortium has received an order for four pump/turbines including governors for the Goldisthal pumped storage power plant in Thuringia, Germany.
Out of the total order, Voith Hydro Power Generation, which holds a 45 per cent share in the consortium and is responsible for the hydraulic development of the pump/turbines and the control technology, has received a contract worth nearly DM50M. Other members of the consortium are Sulzer Hydro of Switzerland and the Czech company CKD.
With an output of over 1000MW, Goldisthal will be one of the largest pumped storage plants in Europe.
The station is of particular importance as it may be the last project of this magnitude to be realized in Germany. It was first proposed 25 years ago when the site was part of the German Democratic Republic. Previously cancelled for financial reasons, the project was revived by VEAG after reunification.