Kreuzbergmaut Run-of-River Power Plant

The joint-venture power plant Kreuzbergmaut is a run-of-river power plant on the Salzach, situated on the central Salzach River near Pfarrwerfen in Salzburg.

*Source: ENTSO-E Production 2017

The Kreuzbergmaut power plant was built between 1993 and 1995 and was the basis of the development of the “Middle Salzach” section between Schwarzach and Werfen. Two Kaplan bulb turbines generate an annual average of about 80 GWh of electricity entirely from hydropower.

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Owner	VERBUND Hydro Power GmbH, Salzburg AG
Operator	Salzburg AG
Commissioning	1996
Type	Run-of-river power plant
Country	Austria
Region	Salzburg
Waters	Salzach
Output	18 MW
Annual output	80,000 MWh
Turbine	Kaplan
Connectivity	Fish bypass

Ecology & environmental protection

At the same as the construction of the Kreuzbergmaut power plant, a flume was implemented between the headwater and tailwater as a fish bypass, and also performs the task of groundwater drainage. In total, the near-natural bypass channel has a length of 1.5 km and flows into the Fritzbach, which is directed past the power plant into the tailwater. The flow rate has been organised by means of short groynes and activation stones and structured with deliberately felled trees and groynes made from coarse gravel. The fish bypass overcomes a total height difference of 3 metres.

The base of the dam along the orographic right bank was structured by four stone groynes over a length of about 150 metres. This created structural elements for improving the morphology of the regulated and hard-built Salzach. The created areas of shallow water and structural elements primarily serve as a “nursery” for the juvenile fish or as a defence against floods.

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Turbines and generators: Two horizontally installed Kaplan bulb turbines have an output of 9,310 kW each with a head of 10.2 metres. The four-blade impellers with a diameter of 3.65 m have an intake capacity of 100 m³/sec. The two bulb turbine generators have a nominal output of 10,500 kVA. The generators are cooled by means of a closed circuit, which is re-cooled with water from the Salzach.

Transformers: Two 10,500 kVA machine transformers raise the generated energy to 30,000 V. Transmission is via two parallel 30 kV cable lines to the Pongau substation of Salzburg AG. The plant additionally has two 400 kVA transformers to cover its own requirements.

Weir system: In order to control the three-field weir system, welded pressure segments in the box design with weir flaps are used. With a clear width of 10 metres, the barriers enable a total dammed height of 10.0 metres. The drive is oil-hydraulically via pull cylinders arranged in pairs at the side of the segments and a centrally arranged push cylinder on each of the weir flaps.