Rudolf Fettweis power station, Hydroelectric power complex in Forbach, Germany.
The Rudolf Fettweis power station is a hydroelectric facility near Forbach in the Black Forest that combines run-of-river and pumped-storage technology. Several separate plants are connected through a network of tunnels, with the Schwarzenbachsee reservoir serving as the central water storage element.
Work on the station began in 1922 under engineer Theodor Rehbock and was completed in 1926. It was one of the first facilities in Germany to link run-of-river and pumped-storage systems into a single connected network.
The Schwarzenbachsee reservoir draws walkers and anglers to its shores throughout the year, especially on weekends. It has become a natural gathering point for people living in the villages around Forbach.
The station is visible from several walking paths around the Schwarzenbachsee reservoir, making it easy to observe from the outside without entering the site. The valley setting means weather can shift quickly, so layered clothing is a good idea.
The Schwarzenbachsee reservoir takes roughly two and a half months to drain completely when maintenance requires it. This unusually long draining time gives a sense of how much water the system moves on a daily basis.
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