Linth–Limmern Power Stations
| Linth–Limmern Power Stations | |
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Upstream face of the Limmern Dam
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 Location of Linth–Limmern Power Stations in Switzerland
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| Country | Switzerland |
| Location | Linthal, Glarus Süd |
| Coordinates | 46°51′00″N 9°0′03″E / 46.85000°N 9.00083°ECoordinates: 46°51′00″N 9°0′03″E / 46.85000°N 9.00083°E |
| Status | Operational; under expansion |
| Construction began | 1957 |
| Commission date | 1964 Tierfehd PS: 2009 Limmern PS: 2015/2016 est. |
| Owner(s) | Linth-Limmern AG |
| Pumped-storage power station | |
| Upper reservoir | Mutt/Limmern |
| Lower reservoir | Limmern/Tierfehd |
| Hydraulic head | Limmern PS: 623 m (2,044 ft) |
| Generating units | Tierfehd: 3 x 87 MW Pelton-type, 2 x 20 MW Pelton-type, 1 x 140 MW Francis pump-turbine Linthal: 2 x 17.2 MW Francis-type Mutt: 4.4 MW Pelton-type |
| Pump-generators | Tierfehd: 1 x 140 MW Limmern:4 x 250 MW Francis pump-turbine |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | Tierfehd: 441 MW Linthal: 34.4 MW Mutt: 4.4 MW Limmern: 1,000 MW |
| Annual output | Tierfehd: 345 million kWh Linthal: 76 million kWh Mutt: 7 million kWh Total: 428 million kWh |
The Linth–Limmern Power Stations are a system of hydroelectric power stations located south of Linthal in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland. Using five reservoirs and three power stations at steep variations in altitude, the scheme currently has an installed capacity of 479.8 MW. Construction on the Limmern Dam and Linth–Limmern Power Stations began in 1957. The Limmern Dam was complete in 1963 and the power stations were all operational by 1968. By 2009, the 140 MW pumped-storage component between Lake Limmern and Tierfehd was commissioned. In 2010 construction began on the Linthal 2015 project, which is the addition of a 1,000 MW pumped-storage component between Lake Mutt and Lake Limmern. This also includes an expansion of Lake Mutt and the Tierfehd Balancing Reservoir.
The main reservoir is Lake Limmern which was created by a 146 m (479 ft) tall and 375 m (1,230 ft) long arch dam on the Limmern Creek. It can store up to 92,000,000 m3 (74,586 acre·ft) of water which can all be used for power generation. The reservoir is at an elevation of 1,857 m (6,093 ft) while Lake Mutt, located above it, is situated at 2,474 m (8,117 ft) above sea level. Lake Mutt has a storage capacity of 9,000,000 m3 (7,296 acre·ft) which is currently being expanded to 25,000,000 m3 (20,268 acre·ft) for the new pumped-storage power station. Between Lake Mutt and Limmern is a 4.4 MW power station containing a single Pelton turbine-generator. Between these two lakes is also the site of the current expansion. With the storage capacity of Lake Mutt being increased, a new power station with four 250 MW Francis pump-turbine-generators is being constructed. This will allow water to be shifted between both lakes in order to produce pumped-storage hydroelectricity. During periods of low demand, water can be pumped from Lake Limmern to Lake Mutt and when energy demand is high, the water is released down to the power station for generation. The same turbines that pump the water to Lake Mutt reverse into generator mode. The difference in elevation between the two lakes affords a net hydraulic head of 623 m (2,044 ft).
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