Hydroelectric power plant in Farchau, Hydroelectric power plant in Schmilau, Germany.
The Farchau hydroelectric power plant is a facility in Schmilau that uses river flow to drive turbines and generate electricity. The building sits alongside the water and displays the technical equipment from its founding period.
The plant was completed in 1925 and was part of Germany's industrial development using renewable energy sources. It shows how early hydroelectric facilities were built in Germany.
The facility shows early German engineering and was protected because of this. You can see how people wanted to use the power of water to create electricity for their communities.
The plant stands on the Schaalseekanal at the southern end of the Küchensee near Farchau. The site is not set up for public tours, so the building and its two yellow signs, "Schachthaus" and "Maschinenhaus 2", are best viewed from the canal bank. The water level of the Schaalsee is regulated here, so the outflow and the 146-metre pressure pipe can be seen from outside.
The power plant still uses its original equipment from 1925 while generating electricity for the region today. This combination of active use and historical substance makes it a rare example of functioning industrial heritage.
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