Augsburg tests new type of small hydropower plant

14.04.2025

Source: E & M powernews

The city of Augsburg has approved five floating small hydropower plants from Energyminer GmbH in the Lech. Accompanying studies are to examine the environmental compatibility.

A new type of hydropower system is to be used in the Lech river near Augsburg: The company Energyminer from Gröbenzell near Munich plans to install five so-called "Energyfish" plants in the river next to Augsburg's sewage treatment plant as part of a pilot project. The city has now granted the company permission to do so. The project will be accompanied by a scientific study to examine potential effects on the ecosystem. Energyminer announced this in a press release on April 10.

The permit stipulates that the five Energyfish systems will only be installed after the first positive results from the study have been presented. This procedure is intended to ensure that the natural state of the Lech and its ecological functions are preserved. The scientific monitoring enables a transparent assessment of possible influences and should contribute to the optimization of renaturation projects, it is said.

No foundation necessary

The Energyfish is a hydrokinetic power plant that does not require dam walls or concrete structures. The plant is anchored in the river bed and floats in the water like a buoy. It uses the natural current of the water to generate electricity. With a length of around three meters, a width of 2.4 meters and a weight of around 80 kilograms, a single Energyfish produces an average of 1.8 kW of power and up to 15,000 kWh per year. As Energyminer explains on its website, a swarm of 100 such systems can generate around 1.5 million kWh per year, which is equivalent to supplying around 470 households.

The start-up already tested the technology in a pilot plant in the Auer Mühlbach in Munich in 2023. The knowledge gained there will be incorporated into the current project. Particular attention is being paid to the fish compatibility of the systems. Fish would have enough space to swim past the system. According to the entrepreneurs, there is also no suction effect that draws the fish into the rotors. According to Energyminer, specially developed rotors with blunt edges and a limited rotational speed prevent fish from coming into danger. For further assurance, the Technical University of Munich, headed by Prof. Jürgen Geist, will carry out a study to investigate the effects of the turbines on the fish population.

There had previously been concerns on the part of local fishing associations, as reported by Bayerischer Rundfunk. They feared that fishing and biodiversity would be adversely affected. The scientifically supported test phase that has now been approved is intended to address these concerns and clarify the environmental compatibility of the technology.

Energyminer emphasizes that the company is in continuous dialogue with all stakeholders and is committed to sustainable technology in harmony with nature. The results of the project could be groundbreaking for the use of micro-hydropower plants in sensitive river ecosystems.

Author: Davina Spohn