Take a look behind the scenes of Austrias and Bavarias largest hydropower electricity producer
Visit our power plants
Take a look behind the scenes of Austrias and Bavarias largest hydropower electricity producer
Jochenstein Run-of-River Plant
VERBUND's power plant at Jochenstein is a run-of-river power plant situated on the Danube and in the municipality of Untergriesbach near Passau in Bavaria.
Jochenstein also serves as a border crossing between Upper Austria and Bavaria, and is therefore open to cyclists and pedestrians from 6.00 am to 10.00 pm. The power plant, which has a bottleneck capacity of 132 MW, is the most powerful power plant of the “border power plants” group and capable of supplying around 221,000 households with electricity generated entirely from hydropower.
Guided tours are organised by the ‘Haus am Strom’.
Guided tours are organised by the ‘Haus am Strom’.
Summer 2024: power plant bridge open
The Jochenstein power plant bridge is open again right in time for the summer season. The popular border crossing between Bavaria and Austria is thus open to pedestrians and cyclists. The refurbishment is scheduled to continue in the late autumn. The winter closure will be announced in good time. Until then: have a safe trip!
Bridge construction site at Jochenstein
3D adventure at Jochenstein
The "fortress in the current" has gained another attraction. An energy adventure in 3D lets visitors immerse themselves in the world of hydropower. At the Jochenstein power plant on the Danube, it is now possible to experience up close how water turns into electricity – the Jochenstein Energy Adventure. More about it in Flow, our VERBUND blog.
Latest report: Divers working at Jochenstein
Documentary film 1955: Battling ice in the Jochenstein storage area
Ecology & environmental protection
A fish bypass at the Jochenstein run-of-river power plant is currently being planned.
The plant group of the border power plants was certified under ISO 14001 for the first time at the end of 2017. The power plants on the rivers Inn and Danube in the border area between Austria and Germany not only fulfil the statutory requirements but also focus on high environmental standards and technical innovations. Goals include the efficient use of hydropower and a balance between economy and ecology. The effectiveness and benefit of the environmental management system are mainly the responsibility of our employees, who undergo constant training and development in this area.
Wherever ecologically valuable and technically feasible, VERBUND has set itself the goal of guaranteeing the continuity of flow for domestic fish and aquatic life at the locations of its hydropower plants. By 2025, VERBUND will invest 280 million euros in the implementation of fish bypasses and other ecological structural measures.
Turbines and generators: Five Kaplan turbines with vertical shaft generate a total output of 132,000 kW with the five three-phase synchronous generators in the shield design. The maximum intake capacity of all turbines is 2,050 m³/sec. Beyond this volume, water must be discharged via the weir system.
Weir system: The weir gates are designed as riveted double hook gates with electromechanical winches and gall chains. The power plant belongs to the “border power plants” group, which is noted for its geographical location on the rivers Inn and Danube, where they form the border between Austria and Bavaria.
Weir system: The weir gates are designed as riveted double hook gates with electromechanical winches and gall chains. The power plant belongs to the “border power plants” group, which is noted for its geographical location on the rivers Inn and Danube, where they form the border between Austria and Bavaria.
