Green electricity from the region for the region: Wien Energie commissioned the new small hydroelectric power plant in Pusterwald (Styria, Murtal district) on Friday after almost one and a half years of construction. The plant produces the equivalent of the amount of electricity consumed by 3,300 households per year.
"The Pusterwaldbach hydroelectric power plant makes an important contribution to climate protection; our responsibility does not end at the city limits," explains Michael Strebl, CEO of Wien Energie, about the commitment in Styria. "It creates regional added value and is an investment in our future and the future of our children."
The power plant has an output of two megawatts. The water from the Pusterwaldbach stream drives two Francis turbines from a height of 80 meters. Ten gigawatt hours of electricity can be generated per year. This means savings of around 6,000 tons of CO2 per year. During construction, great attention was also paid to protecting nature. For example, a fish ladder enables the natural life cycles in the Pusterwaldbach stream to continue.
"The Pusterwaldbach hydroelectric power plant is a model example not only in terms of climate protection and ecology. The energy production in the beautiful Murtal will significantly increase the security of supply for the region," says Karl Gruber, Managing Director of Wien Energie. "I would like to thank the municipality for the good cooperation and partnership. We are pleased that we have been able to implement another plant in Styria."
"This project is a correct and important step towards a sustainable and future-proof energy supply for our region," says Pusterwald's mayor Fritz Strahlhofer. "A construction project of this magnitude is always a challenge, be it through diversions or other disruptions to everyday life. That is why we would like to thank our population for their patience and understanding."
Hydropower at Wien Energie
Hydropower is the most important form of green electricity generation in Austria. It accounts for around two thirds of Austrian electricity production. Wien Energie has more than 100 years of experience with the technology. The oldest active hydroelectric power plant in Wien Energie's portfolio in Opponitz was opened in 1924. Today the company operates 26 locations in Austria and a further 40 abroad. In addition, there are investments, such as in the combined power plants Freudenau and Greifenstein and in the Inn power plants.
In Styria, Wien Energie operates hydroelectric power plants in Gulling, Unzmarkt, Mürzhofen, Kindberg, Bruck an der Mur and Ratten, among others.
Key data of the Pusterwaldbach hydroelectric power plant
- Groundbreaking: May 2023
- Gross head: 80 meters
- Expansion flow: 3.15 m³/sec.
- Pipe length: 4,350 meters
- Turbines: 2 Francis turbines
- Power: 2 megawatts
- Annual production: 10 gigawatt hours
- CO2 savings: 6,000 tons per year
