Voith to modernize motor-generator at Vianden

6 April 2018


More efficient electricity production is expected at the Vianden pumped storage plant in Luxembourg as Voith is awarded a deal to modernize one the plants motor-generators.

The project covers the design, calculation, construction, delivery and assembly of a new synchronous motor-generator that will increase the capacity of the generating set by around 7% to 217MW. The pump turbine remains unchanged.

In addition to the increase in capacity, the new motor-generator will also be able to respond faster to changes in the load requirements from the power grid when it goes back into operation. The choice and design of the components will also ensure longer service cycles, said Voith. The work on the machine is scheduled to be completed by 2021.

As part of the  project, Voith has developed a space- saving solution allowing the new equipment to be installed within the existing system. In the process the company largely uses the existing distribution station architecture and existing infrastructure. A new rotor design with rim ventilation also results in lower electrical and mechanical losses. This means that auxiliary units can be reduced. At the same the availability of the system, and thus its efficiency, increase.

The Vianden pumped storage plant went into operation in 1964 and following expansions in 1976 and 2014 currently has a total of 11 generating sets with a generator capacity of 1495MVA and turbine output of 1290MW. The entire installed pump output is 1045MW.

The Vianden power plant, which is located right on the border between Germany and Luxembourg, feeds directly into the German electricity grid. The plant is owned by Societé Electrique de l’Our S.A., and is marketed and operated by RWE Generation.



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