The Ettal Abbey took over 300,000 euros.
In particular, the turbine in the mill had to be completely refurbished.
Ettal - The times when wood was processed in the sawmill at the Ettaler Mühle are long gone.
The trunks could be pulled from the inflow, says Father Johannes Bauer.
Operations have been idle since the 1950s.
In principle, it would still be possible today, but it is no longer profitable.
A few meters away there is no trace of calm.
There is a roar from the little house. The hydropower plant is working. Better than before. Ettal Abbey invested 300,000 euros in the renovation of the Kaplan turbine installed in 1956. "When it runs for 65 years again," says Father Bauer and laughs, "the return is not that bad."
The renewed model with 80 hp has been serving its purpose for four weeks.
Mario Büter, the head of the monastery energy center, is satisfied.
It awards the grade “very good”.
A year ago, in March, he noticed: something is wrong.
The device made more noise, the output dropped from an average of 52 kilowatts per hour to 30. The impeller was struck, the shaft rubbed.
To prevent greater damage, the monastery took money in hand.
After all, they did not want to stop operations.
“It would be a shame to leave this fallow,” emphasizes the priest.
Lightning always struck the pipeline
In 1701 the former grinding mill of the monastery was built.
Energy production began at the end of the 19th century.
The monastery was supplied with electrical energy via a long-distance line that led from the turbine house to the main building complex of the abbey complex.
But lightning struck the line regularly, says Büter.
Associated with this: high repair costs.
Due to fire damage, the generator had to be replaced in the 1990s.
During this time, the pipeline was also shut down.
Today the electricity generated is fed directly into the public grid.
+
The water wheel, which was built by the Stocker company from Pfaffenhofen at the beginning of the 20th century, still exists today.
© Very
The monastery covers about a third of its needs with the hydroelectric power station.
Consumption is 1.2 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year.
The mill produces around 370,000 kWh and the photovoltaic system 30,000.
“Both are of course dependent on the weather,” says Büter.
Environmental aspects taken into account
But those responsible were not only targeting the turbine.
In the course of the work there were further improvements.
Outside at the inlet, for example, the barriers were replaced, inside the house - there is of course a crucifix on the wall - automatic lubrication for the turbine was installed.
Environmental aspects were also taken into account.
Among other things, for the benefit of the fish that swim in the crystal clear turquoise water.
“Nothing can happen there,” assures Büter.
Instead, another creature will soon drive him insane: the beaver. "It drives us crazy." Again and again, gnawed wood was washed up and had to be removed from the inlet. The higher the water level, the more it washes up. "Sometimes," says Büter, "a whole mountain comes along."