Ködeltalsperre, Water reservoir in Nordhalben, Germany
The Ködeltalsperre is a water reservoir in Upper Franconia created by a stone dam that holds water across a wide valley. The facility supplies drinking water to the surrounding region while also generating electricity through turbines.
The facility was built between 1968 and 1972 as Bavaria's first dedicated drinking water dam, representing an important development in regional water management. The project established a new approach to combining water supply with hydroelectric generation.
The reservoir system supplies drinking water to the Upper Franconia region while generating hydroelectric power through three machine sets including a Francis turbine.
The area is best visited in calm weather when the water surface reflects the surrounding landscape clearly. The reservoir has several accessible viewpoints and walking paths that are easy to navigate.
The facility recovers heat generated by its turbines to warm the operational buildings on the dam site, an innovative approach to energy efficiency that was ahead of its time. This heating system demonstrates clever resource management within the power generation process.
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