Malta Main Stage Pumped Storage Power Plant

The Malta Main Stage pumped storage power plant in Rottau is the core element of the Malta-Reisseck power plant group. The three-stage power plant group was constructed from 1971 to 1979.

“The valley of falling water”, as the Maltatal valley is also called, supplies the Malta main stage pumped storage power plant in the Mölltal valley in Carinthia with the precious water.

A network of reservoirs (Kölnbrein, Galgenbichl, Gößkar, Großer See and Kleine Mühldorfer See, as well as several small lakes on the Reißeck plateau) together with the pumped storage and storage power plants of the Malta group ensure that the region has a secure supply of electricity generated entirely from hydropower. With 730 MW, the Malta main stage pumped storage power plant is the most powerful.

The fascination of hydropower

VERBUND offers its guests comprehensive and varied information on energy generation and also gives them a look behind the scenes at Energy World Malta on the Kölnbrein dam. The Berghotel Malta offers space for relaxation and a view of the stunning high mountain panorama.

An overview of the Malta-Reißeck power plant group:

Panorama with the connected power plants of Malta, Reißeck and Kreuzeck

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Owner	VERBUND Hydro Power GmbH
Operator	VERBUND Hydro Power GmbH
Commissioning	1979
Type	Pumped-storage power plant
Country	Austria
Region	Carinthia
Waters	Malta, Drava
Output	730 MW
Annual output	623,321 MWh
Turbine	Pelton
Connectivity	No fish bypass

VERBUND attaches great importance to good relations with its neighbours at the sites of our hydropower plants. In order to reduce the noise impact in the pump operation of the Malta main stage power plant, VERBUND has developed a technical package of measures on the basis of scientific studies, which is now being presented to the authorities as part of water law proceedings and will be implemented swiftly by VERBUND as a result.
Pump operation produces noise emissions which residents perceived as very disturbing. In order to obtain clarity, a sound engineering report was commissioned and, building on this, an environmental medical report, both of which indicated a need for action. Within the framework of the direct dialogue with a citizens’ initiative founded in the municipalities of Reißeck and Mühldorf, with the two municipalities themselves as well as with the province of Carinthia and the responsible authority, VERBUND gave assurances that it would develop possible technical measures to reduce the noise impact in the pump operation of the Malta main stage power plant and – after checking their effectiveness –- to implement them quickly.

New Reißeck pond: young anglers welcome!

In addition to the themed trail, a new pond was created at the mouth of the Möll into the Rottau equalising basin. It covers an area of around one hectare and is up to five metres deep. In addition, the gently sloping bank gives children and young people safe access to the fishing grounds. Fishing ponds, such as the Reißeck pond, are stocked with rainbow trout, carp and tench

Responsible treatment of the environment

Four sets of machinery with vertical shafts and a total bottleneck capacity of 730 MW are installed in the powerhouse. Each of two machine sets consists of a six-nozzle Pelton turbine and a generator. The two other machine sets are additionally equipped with a four-stage storage pump, a hydraulic converter and a motor generator instead of the generator.

Galgenbichl pre-storage basin:

The Galgenbichl pre-storage basin is used for intermediate storage of the water from the stream diversions and as balancing ponds for turbine operation at the Galgenbichl power plant. From here, the water can be pumped to the Kölnbrein annual store about 200 metres higher up and stored there or sent to the power plant via the headrace and processed into electricity for use at peak times. The end of the Galgenbichl pre-storage basin is formed by two barrage structures, a 50 metre-high gravel dam sealed with an asphalt and concrete surface and a 15 metre-high concrete gravity wall.

Gößkar equalising reservoir:

In addition to holding back the Gößbäche, the Gößkar equalising reservoir has the task of reducing flow level losses. The barrage structure for the Gößkar equalising reservoir is formed by the Gößkarsperre, a 55 metre-high gravel dam. The level of both reservoirs is at 1,704 metres, the combined capacity around 6.2 million m3.

Rottau equalising reservoir:

The Möll is dammed in the bottom of the Rottau valley at the weir system and thus forms an almost 2 kilometre-long equalising reservoir whose appearance gives it the impression of being a natural lake. It is used as a balance for the turbine operations of the power plant or as a supply basin for the storage pumps.
The generated energy is transformed to 220 kV by the main transformers and fed to the open-air switchgear alongside the power plant.

The pumped storage power plant was built between 1971 and 1979 with the financial participation of Kelag and Energie AG.