Markersbach Pumped Storage Power Plant

The Markersbach Pumped Storage Power Plant is a hydroelectric power station utilizing pumped-storage technology in Markersbach, Saxony, Germany. The installed capacity of the power plant is 1,045 MW. It is Germany's second largest Pumped Storage Power Plant.

It is owned and operated by Vattenfall (Vattenfall Wasserkraft GmbH).

History
Planning for the power plant began in 1961, construction began in 1970 and the generators were commissioned in 1979. The power station generates electricity by moving water between an upper and lower reservoir. During periods of low energy demand, water is pumped from the lower reservoir at an elevation of 563 m to an upper reservoir at 850 m. When energy demand is high, the water is released back down towards the lower reservoir and fed through six 174.25 MW reversible Francis pump turbines, the same machines that pumped the water to the upper reservoir. The installed capacity of the power plant is 1,045 MW.