Power station and weir, Run-of-river power station in Hagneck, Switzerland.
The power station and weir at Hagneck stands where the Hagneck Canal empties into Lake Biel, not on the Aare itself. The historic Hagneck 1 plant of 1900 was joined in 2015 by the modern Hagneck 2 powerhouse, built into a new weir; one machine set of the old plant still runs to feed the old tailrace canal.
The concession to build the plant was granted on 30 May 1891 to the municipalities of Biel, Erlach, Hagneck, La Neuveville, Nidau and Täuffelen. Lacking funds, they founded Elektrizitätswerk Hagneck AG on 19 December 1898 with private investors and Motor AG Baden. Construction began in 1897 under engineer Conradin Zschokke, and operation started in October 1900 at a cost of 3.6 million francs.
The facility is part of Hagneck's protected townscape and forms part of the region's industrial identity. The mechanical installations integrate into the river landscape and shape how the place looks to visitors.
The facility sits directly on the river and is visible from walking paths along the Aare valley. Visitors can observe the structure and its operations from public areas without restricted access concerns.
The original 1900 machine hall used vertical Francis stage turbines with four runner wheels on one shaft, mounted in opposing pairs so their axial thrust cancelled out. The plant was the first of the later BKW Energie, then still called Elektrizitätswerk Hagneck AG.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,396 contributors worldwide.
