Caption
Freudenau Power Plant
Danube-river at river kilometer 1321.05
This power plant, completed in 1998, is the world’s first big run-of-river power station located in a city of over two million inhabitants. It was built directly in the river (wet construction). With a runner diameter of 7.5 meters the turbines rank among the biggest in Europe. The output of the Freudenau power station corresponds to the consumption of about half of all private households in Vienna.
In 1991 a great majority of the inhabitants of Vienna voted for the power plant in a public opinion poll. There was much to be said for it. Satisfying no less than 200 environmental conditions, Freudenau fully meets the requirements of the Viennese Nature Conservation Law. The deepening of the Danube near Vienna was stopped, the blind river arms of Alte Donau and the Lobau waters are supplied with enough water again. 10 hectares of forest were planted, new biotopes, inlets and islands on the Donauinsel provide additional habitats for animals and plants. The ecologically sound bypass river including fish ladders has been accepted well by the fish.
- Production in a normal year: 1,052.0 mil. kWh
- Nominal capacity: 172,000 kW
- Units: 6 with horizontal shaft
- Turbines: Kaplan bulb turbine
- Weir system: 4 weir openings
- Navigation locks: 2 (275x24 m)
- Construction period: 1992-98
In the picture we are located below the turbine #1, about 10 meters below the surface of the Danube. The huge blue pipe above us is the case of the Kaplan bulb turbine with a diameter of 7.5 meters (!) The initial view shows to the Headwater, this means, against the direction of flow.
Special thanks to the "Verbund-Austria Hydro Power AG" and the people at the power-plant for their great support.
illustration of the power plant & viewpoint:
http://www.panoramafotos.net/wwp/905/kaplan-turbin.jpg