Exciting excursion to the Giessenbach hydropower plant

19.12.2024
News Study Program

As part of the lecture on mechanical and plant engineering given by Dr. Matthias Kammermeier, students visited the Giessenbach hydroelectric power plant in Kiefersfelden.

Practice meets theory: students on an excursion to the Giessenbach hydroelectric power station gain impressive insights into energy technology.

As part of the lecture Mechanical and Plant Engineering” by Dr. Matthias Kammermeier, students of the Industrial Engineering & Management degree program of the Kufstein Uni had the opportunity to visit the Giessenbach hydroelectric power plant in Kiefersfelden. This excursion allowed the participants to experience their theoretical knowledge of power plant technology in practice.

INSIGHTS INTO THE WORLD OF HYDROELECTRICITY

The Giessenbach hydroelectric power plant, operated by the municipal utilities of Kiefersfelden, has been in operation for over 100 years as the first municipal hydroelectric power plant in Bavaria. It impresses with its openly accessible and transparent design, which allows a direct view of the technology. The power plant was shut down especially for the excursion so that the students could examine the components in detail.

Dr. Kammermeier explained: “It was particularly important to give the students a better understanding of the dimensions of a power plant. Although the Giessenbach power plant is rather small compared to power plant technology, it is still impressive to experience it on site.”

THEORY AND PRACTICE COMBINED

The lecture “Mechanical and Plant Engineering” focused on the main functions of a hydroelectric power plant. However, during the excursion, secondary functions such as the bedload rake and the control of the power plant were also discussed in detail. This practical approach helped the students to gain a better understanding of the theoretical principles and to relate them to real-life applications.

Particular emphasis was placed on the sustainable energy generation by the power plant. It supplies around 100 households in Kiefersfelden and plays an important role in local energy policy. As part of the municipal utilities in Kiefersfelden, it supports security of supply through the use of small-scale power plant technology.

SUSTAINABILITY AND CHALLENGES

One of the special features of the power plant is the durability of the technology. Although it is regularly maintained, the basic technology has hardly changed in the last few decades. This underlines the proven reliability of the plant.

The focus here is on sustainable energy generation. Additional power plants are not currently planned, but local energy generation will be further strengthened by the expansion of photovoltaic power plants. The dependence of electricity generation on precipitation levels remains a challenge.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS

The students were particularly impressed by the direct access to the technology and the in-depth tour led by Thomas Anker. They showed great interest in topics such as maintenance work and the harmonization of power plant technology and the environment.

Dr. Kammermeier concluded by emphasizing, “The excursion offered the students a unique opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Insights such as these are invaluable for understanding the complex procedures involved in energy technology.”