100 years of hydropower on the Bavarian Inn

Within the framework of a signing ceremony, VERBUND Innkraftwerke GmbH transferred the historically valuable parts of the photo archive and written records to the Munich State Archive. The historical exhibition "Work. Daily Life. Adventure. 100 Years of Hydropower on the Bavarian Inn" will be opened to mark this event. An exciting insight into the extremely valuable collection is guaranteed.

VERBUND, Austria's leading electricity company and operator of the power plants on the Bavarian Inn officially signed the agreement with the Munich State Archive. As a result, the historically valuable parts of the photo archive and a large number of written documents relating to the Bavarian power plants on the Inn will now be moved to the State Archive in Munich. An excerpt from the extremely valuable and extensive historical collection of the Inn power plants was opened today in the main administration building in Töging: The exhibition "Work. Daily Life. Adventure. 100 Years of Hydropower on the Bavarian Inn" is dedicated to forgotten work environments and daily rituals connected with the construction of the historical power plants.

VERBUND Innkraftwerke GmbH transfers valuable collection to the Munich State Archive

A transfer agreement, drawn up on the basis of the Bavarian Archive Law, was signed by VERBUND Innkraftwerke GmbH and the Munich State Archive. The historically valuable parts of the photo archive and other written documents will, after evaluation, be entrusted to the Munich State Archive under reservation of proprietary rights.

The transfer agreement was signed by Managing Director Michael Amerer and Dr. Karl Heinz Gruber from VERBUND Innkraftwerke GmbH as well as Dr. Peter Fleischmann, Head of the Munich State Archive.

Available for science and research

The Munich State Archive offers long-term, professional storage and safeguarding of the historical photo formats, which include several thousand historical photo glass plates. The selected photographs will be stored in the state archive under the best possible storage conditions (atmospheric environment), digitalised and made available for science and research.

The photo material and the visual documentation of the various project phases of the power plant construction sites since 1910 are in perfect condition and, with very few exceptions, precisely dated.

Michael Amerer, Managing Director of VERBUND Innkraftwerke GmbH: "The extremely valuable photographs provide a highly expressive and revealing look behind the scenes of power plant construction. The unique photos document in an excellent manner the long forgotten work environments and daily rituals which, from today's perspective, often appear to be quite adventurous.

Exhibition opening with historical exhibits, silent film and catalogue

At the signing ceremony, VERBUND Innkraftwerke GmbH presented a selection of 60 exquisite, historical exhibits within the framework of the travelling exhibition "Work. Daily Life. Adventure. 100 Years of Hydropower on the Bavarian Inn".

One highlight is definitely the projection of a 16-millimetre film reel from the years 1920 to 1924. The 15-minute film provides a realistic insight into Bavaria's construction and industrial history and, in particular, hydropower plant construction in the inter-war years.

The exhibition was independently organised by VERBUND Innkraftwerke GmbH under the coordination of Dr. Robert Kobau and the project management of Andreas Kuchler. All exhibits are presented in an impressive exhibition catalogue (photo book).

Hydropower has a long, proven and successful track record

Dr. Karl Heinz Gruber, Managing Director of VERBUND Innkraftwerke GmbH: "Bavaria can look back on a long tradition of hydropower. The expansion of hydropower on the Bavarian Inn took place between 1924 and 1992 between Kufstein and Passau. The first plans date back to 1910." Electricity from hydropower is a sustainable and , above all, CO₂-free form of energy. Hydropower is a clean domestic energy form that is always available and, given the challenging climate goals and the required level of energy self-sufficiency, it will play a very important role in the future.