We look down on the Lavamünd an der Drau power station from above.

Drau River power plants

The Drau River is an important river in Central Europe and one of the longest tributaries of the Danube. It rises in the South Tyrolean Dolomites in Italy and flows from there eastwards through Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and finally through Hungary, where it flows into the Danube. In Austria, the Drau River flows through the state of Carinthia, where it is known for its picturesque landscapes and as a popular destination for water sports such as canoeing and rafting.

Historically speaking, the Drau River has been an important trade route, connecting the Eastern Alpine region with the Adriatic Sea and contributing to the prosperity of many cities along the river. Today, the Drau River is also an important habitat for many animal and plant species that have found a home in the floodplain forests, wetlands and water landscapes along the river.

Drau River

The Drau River power plant group ensures reliable, renewable electricity generation along the Drau River. Modern run-of-river power plants provide clean energy for households and companies, strengthen the security of supply in the region and combine climate action with economic value creation.

With fish ladders and habitat measures, and by working in close collaboration with communities and regional stakeholders, VERBUND’s power plants along the Drau River contribute to the sustainable development of living environments and economic areas.

Paternion	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	23.5 MW
Kellerberg	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	24.6 MW
Villach	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	24.6 MW
Rosegg-St. Jakob	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	80 MW
Feistritz-Ludmannsdorf	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	88 MW
Ferlach-Maria Rain	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	75 MW
Annabrücke	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	90 MW
Edling	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	87 MW
Schwabeck	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	79 MW
Lavamünd	Run-of-river/hydropeaking power plant	28 MW

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Book: Lifeline Drau River

After 80 years, it has finally been achieved: the Carinthian Drau River is once again passable for fish and therefore fully usable. VERBUND has published the book “Lifeline Drau River” to mark this milestone.

In this 264-kilometre-long section, the Drau River is passable once again and has regained some of its original character.

To mark the occasion, VERBUND has published a book about the history of hydraulic engineering on the Drau River, its diverse habitats and their ecological design and study. Also highlighted are the dedication and success with which we implemented this project together with our partners. The result is a detailed portrait of Carinthia’s lifeline.

Download book