Investments in the modernization and maintenance of existing plants are of high importance, especially in established hydropower markets such as Europe and North America.  On the southern Rhine alone, not far from Albbruck-Dogern, Voith recently modernized and overhauled the hydro-power plants Rheinfelden, Erneg and Bad Säckingen. In Norway, Voith has just received orders for the modernization of six turbines in four hydropower stations. Apart from significantly extending a plant’s lifetime and increasing output as well as efficiency, modernization of power station components can also ensure sustainable and long-term reductions of the operating costs for these power plants.

In Germany, nearly one quarter of all renewable energy is generated from hydropower. The installed hydropower capacity in Germany amounts to approximately 4,100 MW, added by about 6,400 MW from pumped storage power plants. The technically feasible yet still untapped hydropower potential is estimated to be another 6,000 MW.

The Importance of Hydro Power

Hydro power is the largest, oldest and also most reliable form of renewable energy generation. Worldwide it makes an indispensable contribution to stable power supplies and hence to economic and social development - in industrial countries and also in rapidly growing regions. At the same time, hydro power significantly contributes to climate-protecting energy generation. Voith has been a leading supplier of this technology since the early beginning of hydro power utilization, and continuously develops and improves this technology.

Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs almost more than 42,000 people, generates €5.7 billion in sales, operates in over 50 countries around the world and is today one of the biggest family-owned companies in Europe.