In future energy systems with high shares of non-dispatchable renewable generation, the storage of electricity will play a key role. Today, a number of different storage options are discussed to cover the fast growing demand for storage. One of these options involves federal waterways for pumped hydro storage plants. The paper analyses the concept and the results of achievable storage potentials for Germany. The total storage potential for Germany sums up to approx. 400 MWh of which the majority can be attributed to four flight of locks which have been identified as the most suitable sites. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.