Opponitz power station, Run-of-river hydroelectric power station in Opponitz, Austria.
Opponitz power station is a run-of-the-river installation on the Ybbs River that is driven directly by water flow. The turbines use the natural current at approximately 395 meters elevation to generate electricity without requiring large reservoirs.
The power station was built in 1924 and represented progress for Austria's energy supply at that time. The facility was among early projects designed to deliberately harness water power for electricity generation.
The facility is protected as a monument in Austria and shows how industrial buildings fit into river landscapes. Visitors can see how the installation uses nature without fundamentally changing it.
The site is located along the Ybbs River and accessible by coordinates 47.8903°N and 14.8294°E. Visitors walking past should note that the facility operates actively and the workings of the system can be seen from the outside.
Unlike many dams, this facility generates electricity without interrupting water flow or creating large lakes. This makes it one of the lesser-known solutions for hydropower in Europe's river landscapes.
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