Conversion of Töging power station into VERBUND centre of excellence for Bavaria has started

The conversion of the historic powerhouse in Töging into a competence centre for VERBUND Wasserkraft in Bavaria has begun. Over the next three years, the listed building will be transformed into a modern multi-purpose building for around 150 experts from the administration and operations of VERBUND's Bavarian hydropower companies.

When the newly constructed Jettenbach-Töging Inn power plant was commissioned in 2022, the existing powerhouse lost its function after more than 100 years. As a result of a comprehensive review of options involving internal and external experts, VERBUND decided to convert the listed building into a modern multi-purpose building.

As part of a subsequent architectural competition, an innovative landmark project was selected from six very different proposals, which will be realised over the next three years. As part of a complete revitalisation of the historic building stock, once completed, light-flooded office space will be available for the administrative departments and plant group management, archives and workshops with associated storage facilities, social rooms and special technical rooms for the operation of the building and for controlling the power plants on the Bavarian Inn.

According to current plans, the conversion should be completed by the end of 2027 and the "VERBUND Wasserkraft Bayern Competence Centre" should be ready for occupancy at the beginning of 2028. With a mid-double-digit million euro investment, VERBUND is combining sustainable property development with a long-term combination of tradition and modernity in the integrated design of a new, flexible working environment:

• Energy-efficient refurbishment, including roof, façade and windows;
• Complete load-bearing structure made of wood in the sense of circular construction;
• Use of natural displacement ventilation instead of a conventional ventilation system;
• Utilisation of waste heat from the generators of the neighbouring new power plant via heat extraction (CHP).

"With the new competence centre, we are making a responsible contribution to the further development of our hydropower expertise here in Bavaria as a committed driver of the energy transformation. VERBUND is investing over a billion euros in Bavaria over the next three years and proving that we are a sustainable partner here in the region and will remain so for decades to come," emphasises COO Achim Kaspar, who is responsible for hydropower on VERBUND's Executive Board.

Erwin Schneider, District Administrator of Altötting, adds: "We are delighted that new life is being breathed into the architectural jewel and building ensemble of the historic Töging powerhouse, which is a landmark of the region, and will certainly further enhance the location significantly. As a member of the selection jury, it was a great pleasure for me to be involved in ensuring that the next chapter can be written locally."

Max Heimerl, District Administrator of Mühldorf/Inn, explains: "The implementation of the project is not only an example of sustainable property development in the region, but also an important contribution to preserving the traditional cultural heritage that characterises us. The project will generate momentum and develop into a location factor. New Work within historic walls has great potential and could become a pioneering model for other projects."

"Töging is hydropower, that's in our DNA. Since the takeover of the Innkraftwerke in 2009, Töging has developed enormously thanks to VERBUND. We appreciate the excellent cooperation in the day-to-day work on site, as well as the strategic foresight. Following the construction of the new power plant, a bridge is now being built to the historical building fabric, skilfully connecting yesterday with today and tomorrow, so to speak. And I would already like to welcome all future residents of Töging," says Tobias Windhorst, Mayor of Töging.

Karl Heinz Gruber, Managing Director of VERBUND Wasserkraft Bayern, adds: "Clean electricity from hydropower generated by the Inn and border power plants makes a valuable contribution to the domestic energy supply here in Bavaria. VERBUND Wasserkraft's centre of excellence in Bavaria, which will be established in the coming years, will enable us to continuously develop this technology. In doing so, we have broken with the principle that the old often has to give way so that the new can emerge. With the innovative approach chosen here, we combine the historical with the modern and are therefore a driver for change and a motor for innovation: on the highly complex turbines as well as in the primarily traditional office workplace, for example.

"For the successful transformation and decarbonisation of our energy system, we will not only need every kilowatt hour of renewable generation, but will also be measured by how sustainably we use our resources overall. We were therefore particularly impressed by the sustainability concept and the potential uses of the flexible working environments in the architectural design now being realised," concludes Michael Amerer, Managing Director of VERBUND Wasserkraft Bayern.