Ever wonder how Munich harnesses the power of its river? Isarwerk 1 stands before us. It is Munich’s oldest operating Isar power plant. The Stadtwerke Muchen operates it.
Isarwerk 1 is not directly on the Isar River. It sits on the Isar-Werkkanal. This canal is almost 12 km long. It branches off from the Isar near Buchenhain. The canal rejoins the Isar near the Braunauer Eisenbahnbrücke. The Floßkanal also splits off from the Werkkanal. It leads to the Floßlände. The Hinterbrühler See also gets its water from the Werkkanal.
Construction of Isarwerk 1 spanned from 1906 to 1908. It was Munich’s first municipal electricity plant. August Blößner designed it. The Francis turbines date back to 1915. In 1999, the plant became fully automated. Expansions are planned from 2021.
Inside Isarwerk 1, three Francis double-twin turbines generate electricity. Three salient-pole synchronous generators support them. Each delivers 800 kW. A new Kaplan turbine is planned to replace the Francis turbines after 2022. Its impeller diameter will be two meters. The power should then be 2.6 MW.
The city approved the construction of Isarwerk 1 in November 1904. The approval included changes to the Isar’s course south of Munich.
Since 1907 Isarwerk 1 has been in operation. Since 1993 it has been a historical monument. Annually it produces enough green electricity for 6000 Munich households. The location of Isarwerk 1 is in Munich’s Thalkirchen district. The building integrates well into the natural surroundings. This was according to the high standards of that time.
The Isar’s water ensures a vibrant river ecosystem. The green electricity benefits Munich residents. The plant’s ecological optimization also benefits the Isar’s animal inhabitants. The Isarwerk 1 is a piece of a network. This network includes electricity, heat and cooling plants.
The Isarwerk 1 is a great integration of nature conservation. It also promotes environmentally friendly energy generation. The Isar-Werkkanal generates electricity from a side arm of the Isar. Maintaining the Isar’s water level and eco-friendly energy production is important. The Isarwerk 1 stands as a symbol. It is a symbol of sustainability. It exemplifies environmental consciousness.