The Rheinfelden plant began generating electricity in 1898 and the region developed rapidly: major companies set up business there both on the German and on the Swiss side and their energy needs grew quickly. Five years after Europe's biggest hydroelectric plant went online, it had reached its maximum capacity. Even when output was later increased from an initial ten megawatts to over 25, old Father Rhine was still capable of generating much more energy.
When the original 90-year license expired in 1989, the German and Swiss authorities imposed a new condition on the operating license. In order to cover increasing energy needs on both sides of the border, Energiedienst AG, the subsidiary of EnBW (Energie Baden-Württemberg AG) operating the Rheinfelden plant, was asked to build a new, more powerful plant on the site of the old.
River power: Germany's biggest hydroelectric project
It's been nearly 110 years since Europe's first hydroelectric power plant was built near Rheinfelden, Germany. A new plant, with four times the capacity, is under construction downstream from it. Allianz is the lead insurer for Germany's biggest construction project in the field of renewable energy.
View of the old Rheinfelden power station (front) and the new plant (back)Photo: Energiedienst
Turbines from the end of the 19th century
Another 14 years passed before economic conditions were favorable enough and EnBW gave the green light for Germany's biggest hydroelectric project. Excavations for the new barrage dam began in the summer of 2003 – 130 meters downstream from the old one. At 380 million euros, it is the biggest investment project in Germany in the field of renewable energy. The lead insurer on the German side is Allianz Versicherungs-AG, while Allianz Suisse provides coverage for the construction phase of the new machine building on the Swiss side.
Starting 2011, the original 20 turbines will be replaced by four tubular turbines with a diameter of 6.5 meters, quadrupling capacity to 100 megawatts. Power production will increase from 185 to 600 million kilowatt hours per year – corresponding to the output of 300 large wind turbines. This will supply a total of 170,000 households with clean energy, half of which is intended for the Swiss canton of Aargau.
Starting 2011, the original 20 turbines will be replaced by four tubular turbines with a diameter of 6.5 meters, quadrupling capacity to 100 megawatts. Power production will increase from 185 to 600 million kilowatt hours per year – corresponding to the output of 300 large wind turbines. This will supply a total of 170,000 households with clean energy, half of which is intended for the Swiss canton of Aargau.
Unique model
Twelve million euros were set aside for ecologic measures. These will include renaturalizing the river bank sections between Wyhlen and Rheinfelden, constructing a fish bypass system at the new dam and redesigning the old power plant canal into a natural flowing river to resemble a mountain stream – a unique model.
The section of rapids, deep channels and gravel shoals will be a refuge and breeding area for numerous animal species. Upstream from the dam, there will be a breeding island for common terns, and the shore will provide habitats for bats, white-throated dippers, grey wagtails and beavers. The fact that the concept works can be seen from the number of fish using the bypass system, which connects the habitats above and below the dam. Fish such as barbel, roach, eel, trout and perch struggle upstream, overcoming a height difference of nearly seven meters. Crabs also use the bypass to make their home in the 44 pools of the upper reaches.
Although construction of the new plant has brought about many changes, the ecology of the Upper Rhine at Rheinfelden will be significantly enhanced, says Energiedienst, the plant operator. The environment will also be protected to a significant degree: a traditional coal-fired power plant generating the same capacity would emit 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year.
The section of rapids, deep channels and gravel shoals will be a refuge and breeding area for numerous animal species. Upstream from the dam, there will be a breeding island for common terns, and the shore will provide habitats for bats, white-throated dippers, grey wagtails and beavers. The fact that the concept works can be seen from the number of fish using the bypass system, which connects the habitats above and below the dam. Fish such as barbel, roach, eel, trout and perch struggle upstream, overcoming a height difference of nearly seven meters. Crabs also use the bypass to make their home in the 44 pools of the upper reaches.
Although construction of the new plant has brought about many changes, the ecology of the Upper Rhine at Rheinfelden will be significantly enhanced, says Energiedienst, the plant operator. The environment will also be protected to a significant degree: a traditional coal-fired power plant generating the same capacity would emit 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year.
This article first appeared in the employee magazine "Allianz Journal".
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