Navigation, energy & engineering

Locks & Hydropower on the Danube

Locks and run-of-river plants make the Danube both navigable and an important source of renewable energy.

A ship enters the lock chamber and the gates close. Water is added or released until the chamber reaches the next river level. The opposite gate then opens and the ship can continue its journey.

Many barrages combine this task with renewable power generation, flood protection and a reliable navigable channel. At numerous locations, the lock and hydropower plant form one integrated engineering complex.

Lock passage in time-lapse

How a lock works

PlantRiver kmOpenedDetails

Jochenstein220319565 Kaplan turbines · 227 × 24 m

Aschach216219644 Kaplan turbines · 230 × 24 m

Ottensheim214719749 Kaplan turbines · 240 × 24 m

Wallsee209519686 Kaplan turbines · 230 × 24 m

Ybbs-Persenbeug206019577 Kaplan turbines · 230 × 24 m

Melk203819829 Kaplan turbines · 230 × 24 m

Altenwörth198019769 Kaplan turbines · 230 × 24 m

Greifenstein195619859 Kaplan turbines · 230 × 24 m

Freudenau19211998/996 Kaplan turbines · 275 × 24 m

Gabčíkovo181919928 Kaplan turbines · head approx. 22 m

Djerdap I943197212 Kaplan turbines · head approx. 34 m

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