Kraftwerk Harkort, Hydroelectric power station in Alt-Wetter, Germany
Kraftwerk Harkort is a run-of-the-river power station in Alt-Wetter that generates electricity from the Ruhr River water. The facility operates four turbines that use a 89-meter elevation drop to produce power continuously.
The power station was built in the early 20th century to supply energy to industry. In the 1930s parts of it were rebuilt when the Harkortsee reservoir was created.
The turbine house was designed in Art Nouveau style and stands as a monument reflecting how industry shaped the region. This building shows how factory architecture once combined beauty with function in a way that visitors can still see today.
The site is easily accessible from nearby roads and offers views of the Ruhr River and the surrounding valley. Visitors can see the turbine house from outside and explore the grounds around the facility.
A grain mill operated at this exact location in the 14th century, also using the Ruhr's water. People have harnessed the river's power here for hundreds of years before the modern power station was built.
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