Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 18, VERBUND has announced that the pumped storage power plant “Energiespeicher Riedl” has received official approval after more than a decade of planning. The 300MW project, first proposed in 2012, has been repeatedly recognized by the European Commission as a priority for the energy transition.

From left to right: Bavaria’s Minister of the Environment Thorsten Glauber; Michael Strugl, CEO VERBUND; Prime Minister Markus Söder; District Administrator Raimund Kneidinger; Minister of State Hubert Aiwanger

On September 16, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder handed over the planning approval to VERBUND CEO Michael Strugl and the project management team of the Danube power plant Jochenstein. The ceremony was also attended by State Minister Hubert Aiwanger, Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber, and District Administrator Raimund Kneidinger.

With the Riedl project, VERBUND’s planned investment in Bavarian hydropower will increase to around €1.7 billion by 2030. Construction is scheduled to begin in early October, starting with ecological measures on the Austrian side near the Riedl site.

The project is designed to provide flexible energy storage and support grid stability by balancing supply and demand. As a pumped storage facility, Riedl will store excess electricity by pumping water to an upper reservoir and generate electricity when needed, helping integrate renewable energy into the grid.

VERBUND recently marked another milestone with the official opening of the Limberg III pumped storage power plant in Austria, a project that involved an investment of approximately €572 million. The company’s ongoing expansion in hydropower demonstrates a commitment to enhancing renewable energy capacity while supporting regional energy security.

The Riedl facility is expected to play a key role in the region’s energy transition strategy, providing large-scale, flexible storage and contributing to emissions reduction targets. It will complement other hydropower plants in VERBUND’s portfolio, increasing the overall resilience and efficiency of the electricity network.

By advancing pumped storage projects like Riedl, VERBUND aims to meet growing energy demand while integrating higher shares of renewable generation, particularly wind and solar, into the grid. The project also emphasizes ecological measures, ensuring minimal environmental impact during construction and operation.

Overall, the approval of Energiespeicher Riedl marks a significant step forward for VERBUND’s hydropower expansion in Bavaria, supporting long-term sustainability goals and the broader European energy transition.