Günz test case
Contents
Introduction
The river Günz is located in the southern part of Bavaria, Germany. It is about 55 km long and flows into the river Danube near the city Günzburg. The catchment area of the river Günz is 710 km². The Günz is fed by the confluence of the “Eastern Günz” and the “Western Günz” near the small city Lauben. The Test Case consists of a row of 5 hydropower plants, which are located on the Günz.
The hydrology of the Günz is characterized by peak flows in winter due to snow melting and some peak flows in the summer after heavy rain events. The catchment area of the river Günz is 710 km² The mean interannual discharge of the river Günz is estimated at 7.8 m³/s. The river is classified with a moderate ecological status.
About the hydropower plants
The Test Case Günz comprises 5 consecutive hydropower plants. Four of them are run-of-river hydropower plants and one, the HPP Oberegg, has a diverted reach. Each of the 5 HPPs is equipped with one Kaplan-turbine, with installed capacities of 350 kW at Waldstetten, 450 kW at(Höselhurst and Wattenweiler, 600 kW at Ellzee and 1100 kW at Oberegg. The annual output is between 1.8 – 3.7 millions kWh . The height drop ranges from 3.9 to 8.3 m at the different HPPs.
Layout
The HPPs Höselhurst, Wattenweiler, Ellzee and Waldstetten are run-of-river HPPs, the HPP Oberegg is a diversion hydropower plant (Ausleitungskraftwerk). In the upstream areas of the HPPs there are reservoirs. In the downstream areas the river Günz is still free flowing until the head of the next reservoir. There is a fish bypass channel at every HPP. At the run-of river HPPs they are built as a classical conventional pond system. At Oberegg the fish passage facility for upstream fish migration is integrated into the diverted reach, which is called “Alte Günz”.
The Operator: Bayerische Elektrizitätswerke GmbH (BEW)
The BEW is a 100 % subsidiary of the Lechwerke AG. It runs and maintains 36 HPPs at the rivers Danube, Günz, Lech and Iller and is thereby one of the leading HPP operator in Bavaria, Germany. The company produces over 1 billion kWh energy out of regenerative hydropower per year. Read more.
