The double power plant Augst (operator: 80% KWA 20% Canton Basel Land) and Wyhlen (operator: Energiedienst Holding Laufenburg, majority owned by EnBW since 2003) were built together between 1908 and 1912. The 212.80 m long weir has 10 openings, each with a clear width of 17.50 m. Each opening can be closed by a 9 m high iron gate. These are moved by winches that rest on an iron bridge structure above the pillar heads. A concrete weir bridge on the underwater side serves to reinforce the weir. Weir pillars and supports are clad with Black Forest granite. Until 1990, ten Francis turbine groups on both sides generated 2.2 MW each and two exciter groups each generated 440 kW of electrical energy. Since 1990, two of the former ten Francis turbine groups and two exciter groups have been in operation on the Swiss side; the rest have been replaced by seven built-in Straflo turbine groups, each with an output of 5.54 MW. Since 1990, five of the former ten Francis turbine groups and two exciter groups have still been in operation on the German side; the others have been replaced by six installed Straflo turbine groups. There is also a photovoltaic system on the roof of the KW Wyhlen machine hall with an area of 720 m² and an annual output of approx. 70,000 kWh. Since the end of 2017, a power-to-gas pilot plant for the climate-neutral production of hydrogen using electricity from hydropower has been operating on the Wyhlen power plant site.
Source: Energiedienst AG