Wasserturm Freudenau

From the heart of Vienna, a tale of power and water unfolds. The Wasserturm Freudenau, not a water tower as its name suggests, is a hydroelectric power plant that quietly hums with the energy of the Danube. This marvel of engineering, completed in 1998, stands as the tenth and final link in Austria’s chain of Danube power plants. The Wasserturm Freudenau, a product of the people’s will, followed a 1991 referendum where Viennese citizens overwhelmingly voted in its favor. Its construction, however, was marked by tragedy. In 1996, a Slovakian tugboat, the Čumbier, was caught in the strong currents of high water. The tugboat missed the lock entrance and was swept through a weir section, claiming the lives of eight sailors. A bilingual plaque on the pedestrian bridge of the Wasserturm Freudenau serves as a somber reminder of this tragic event. The Wasserturm Freudenau harnesses the Danube’s flow at kilometer 1921.05. The dam creates a reservoir spanning approximately 28 kilometers, raising the water level by 8.6 meters. This impoundment, holding roughly 55 million cubic meters, feeds the powerhouse. Within its walls, six Kaplan turbine-generator units churn, converting the river’s force into electricity. Each turbine, a massive 7.5 meters in diameter, operates at a nominal speed of 65.2 revolutions per minute. With a combined capacity of 172 MW, the Wasserturm Freudenau feeds the power grid via the nearby Kaiserebersdorf substation. The plant’s annual energy output is a staggering 1052 GWh. The Wasserturm Freudenau isn’t just a source of power. It’s a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting across the Danube and New Danube. It also houses the Stromhaus, an information center dedicated to electricity and the Vienna dam system. Here, videos, interactive games, and models bring the world of energy to life for visitors of all ages.