The Esch-sur-Sûre Dam is an arch dam on the River Sauer just upstream of Esch-sur-Sûre in the Wiltz canton of Luxembourg. The primary purpose of the dam and its reservoir, Upper Sûre Lake, is to provide municipal water supply and hydroelectric power generation. The dam is operated jointly by the Administration of Roads and Bridges and the Syndicate des Eaux du Barrage d'Esch-sur-Sûre (SEBES) while the power station is operated by Société Electrique de l'Our (SEO).

Quick Facts Country, Location ...

Esch-sur-Sûre Dam
Downstream face of the dam
Location of Esch-sur-Sûre Dam in Luxembourg
Country	Luxembourg
Location	Esch-sur-Sûre, Wiltz
Coordinates	49°54′42.44″N 5°55′22.20″E
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1956
Opening date	1957; 67 years ago (1957)
Owner(s)	Administration of Roads and Bridges/Syndicat des Eaux du Barrage d'Esch-sur-Sûre (SEBES)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Arch
Impounds	River Sauer
Height	50 m (160 ft)
Length	170 m (560 ft)
Width (crest)	1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Width (base)	4.5 m (15 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Upper Sûre Lake
Total capacity	59,000,000 m3 (48,000 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area	428 km2 (165 sq mi)
Surface area	3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Maximum length	19 km (12 mi)
Maximum water depth	43 m (141 ft)
Normal elevation	322 m (1,056 ft)
Operator(s)	Société Electrique de l'Our
Commission date	1963
Turbines	2 x 5.5 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	11 MW
Annual generation	16 GWh

Close

It was first conceived in the 1950s to help replace nature groundwater resources for the town of Esch-sur-Sûre. Using an André Coyne design, the dam was constructed between 1956 and 1957 and the power station was commissioned in 1963.^[1] The reservoir has been drained twice during the dam's life; once in 1969 to install a new fixed water intake and again in 1991 to install and adjustable-arm intake which mitigate issues with algae growth in the reservoir.^[2]

The Esch-sur-Sûre is an arch dam with a height of 50 m (160 ft) and length of 170 m (560 ft). It is 1.5 m (4.9 ft) wide at its crest and 4.5 m (15 ft) wide at its base. The dam sits at the head of a 428 km² (165 sq mi) catchment area and creates the Upper Sûre Lake which has a total volume of 59,000,000 m³ (48,000 acre⋅ft). The lake has a surface area of 3.5 km² (1.4 sq mi) and is 19 km (12 mi) long. It is 43 m (141 ft) at it deepest point and the normal elevation is 322 m (1,056 ft).^[3]

The power station at the base of the dam contains two 5.5 MW Francis turbine-generators for a total installed capacity of 11 MW. The power station generates an average of 16 GWh annually. Downstream of the dam there are three weirs fitted with Kaplan turbines with a total installed capacity of 550 kW.^[4]

The dam also provides for flood control but has no spillway. Currently, two bottom outlets with a 450 m³/s (16,000 cu ft/s) discharge capacity pass floods through the reservoir. Floods in the 1990s highlighted the need for a spillway at the dam. A design for a chute spillway on the left abutment of the dam have been drafted but not implemented.^[3]

• Vianden Pumped Storage Plant