Work has begun on replacing a turbine at the Wallsee-Mitterkirchen hydropower plant on the Danube, Verbund has announced. Divers are playing a key role in preparing the turbine chamber by ensuring it is watertight before the old Kaplan impeller can be removed.
The process involves installing heavy steel stoplogs to hold back the river. At a depth of 16m, divers remove sand and debris from the stoplogs’ contact surfaces. Despite low visibility caused by recent rainfall, the reduced water flow over the past year has limited debris in the river.
The rehabilitation project aims to modernise the plant, which was built between 1965 and 1968. The upgrades will increase the plant’s maximum capacity by about 10MW to 220MW and boost annual electricity output by approximately 54 million kilowatt-hours, enough to power 390,000 households. Total investment is estimated at €62.5 million, with completion expected by 2030.
This winter, the second of six generator sets will be replaced, with heavy lifting required for delicate components.
Wallsee-Mitterkirchen is also a hub for innovative energy projects. In 2022, a 1.7MW solar system was added to the 10MW Blue Battery storage facility, covering about three hectares and producing enough electricity for 600 households annually. The plant building includes an efficient solar facade and an on-site EV charging station powered by a photovoltaic system.
