Standing on the banks of the Vltava River, gazing across the water at the island of Štvanice, you might not notice a small, yet remarkable, building on its western tip. This is Elektrárna Štvanice, a hydroelectric power station built in the early 20th century. Built on the island’s western point, it’s one of the oldest hydropower plants on the Vltava River.
Elektrárna Štvanice was built in response to the growing need to provide power to the nearby Prague city. The original plan was to create a small, local grid of power plants, but this was soon abandoned as the river’s path was changed. The Elektrárna Štvanice was one of the two power plants commissioned in that time, but only the second one remains. The first one was near the former Praha-Těšnov railway station, but the Vltava river was significantly modified in the area. The current Elektrárna Štvanice was built in 1913 and 1914. A unique aspect of the building is the prominent tower. It’s a five-story structure that stands 22 meters high with a unique circular top floor shaped like a gazebo. The architect of the plant, Alois Dlabač, drew inspiration from French castle architecture.
This power station has witnessed the city’s transition to modernity. It was built in a time of industrial growth and helped power the city’s expansion. In the 1970s, worn-out machinery forced the plant to shut down. It remained inactive until the 1980s when a massive reconstruction project was undertaken. During the reconstruction, it was found that the foundation was actually resting on wooden piles in gravel and was too unstable to support modern equipment! The old machinery was replaced with new, more powerful Kaplan turbine systems. Today, this historic plant is part of a larger system of hydroelectric structures on the Vltava and is run by the state company, Povodí Vltavy.
Elektrárna Štvanice may be small, but its historical significance is undeniable. While the machinery may be modern, it stands as a reminder of a time when electricity brought innovation and prosperity to the city. As you look at the sleek tower across the water, remember the story of this quiet sentinel!