World Power Plants

Pumpspeicherwerk Rönkhausen140 MW Hydroelectric

HydroRenewableVerified: Feb 2026

Pumpspeicherwerk Rönkhausen ranks as the 179th largest power generation facility in Germany, contributing a modest 0.09% to the nation's energy capacity. With a commissioning year of 1964, this hydroelectric facility has a capacity of 140 MW, placing it as the 19th largest among Germany's 131 hydro plants. The facility employs pumped storage technology, allowing it to store energy during low demand periods and release it during peak times, thus playing a crucial role in balancing the grid. Located within a dynamic energy region, Rönkhausen finds itself surrounded by several power generation facilities, including the Gersteinwerk gas plant, which boasts a remarkable capacity of 2004.5 MW, and multiple coal-fired plants such as Kraftwerk Bergkamen and Werdohl-Elverlingsen, each rated at 717 MW. This proximity to larger coal and gas facilities underscores the diverse energy landscape of the area, where Rönkhausen's renewable energy generation complements the fossil fuel-based power plants. Germany's energy profile reveals a total of 1483 plants with a combined capacity of 151,891 MW, predominantly powered by coal, which highlights the essential role of hydroelectric facilities like Rönkhausen in the transition towards a greener energy mix. As Germany continues to pursue its Energiewende policy, Rönkhausen stands out as a critical asset in enhancing energy storage capabilities and reliability. Looking forward, the plant's ability to adapt to changing energy demands while supporting renewable goals positions it as a significant player in Germany's energy future.

Capacity
140 MW
Commissioning Year
1964

62 years old

Owner
Mark-E
Location
51.2239°, 7.9936°

Germany, Europe

Context & rankings
  • 178. largest of 1,483 plants in Germany
  • #8,685 worldwide by installed capacity
  • #1,845 of 8,493 Hydroelectric plants worldwide
  • 0.09% of the installed capacity of Germany
Age & fleet comparison

62 years in operation

Hydroelectric fleet average: 42.1 years

Operator portfolio

Mark-E operates 1 plants totalling 140 MW

Regional density

133 plants within 100 km, 32,893 MW combined

Nearest plant: Bigge (17.2 km)

Data provenance

Source: Wikidata

Location

Coordinates:: 51.223900, 7.993610
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Carbon Footprint

Zero Direct Emissions

Pumpspeicherwerk Rönkhausen is a hydro power plant producing approximately 491 GWh of clean electricity per year with zero direct CO₂ emissions during operation.

Lifecycle emissions: ~24 g CO₂/kWh (manufacturing, transport, decommissioning)

Technical Details

Primary Fuel Type
Hydro
Energy Source
Renewable
Country
Germany
Continent
Europe
Data Source
Global Power Plant Database

GermanyEnergy Profile

1,483
Total Plants
151.8 GW
Total Capacity
CoalGasNuclearHydro
Top Fuels

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