Underground Power Plant

A power plant in which the machinery (turbines, pumps, generators, transformers, etc.) is installed in a cavity (cavern) blasted into the rock is also known as a underground power plant.

The most common underground power plants are hydropower plants. Hydropower plants use the potential energy of water to drive a water wheel or turbine and generate electricity. As the main factor is the volume and height of the water column, tunnels are often used to connect an elevated lake to the power station. In many cases, the power stations themselves are also located in underground caverns. And if there is a lack of space on the surface, even the water tanks are relocated underground.

The water supply and drainage pipes usually run completely underground. There are many reasons for laying them underground. There is not enough space on the surface, for example in narrow valleys, or the power plant would disturb local residents or spoil the landscape. But climatic conditions can also be a reason. And finally, underground construction makes it possible to optimise the positioning of the various plants, whereas on the surface there are restrictions.

And then, of course, there are power plants in mining, where the caverns already exist and are utilised. In addition, there is often a predecessor here: various systems such as water pumps and lift systems were mechanically driven directly by hydropower as early as the Middle Ages. The miner speaks of Mine Waterworks, and even if the energy produced is mechanical, it must be described as a power station. Compressed air was produced using hydropower, for example in Knesebeck, and later electricity was generated using the same system.

We have categorised the underground power plant as an artificial cavity, the reason being, of course, that the power plant itself is artificial. In fact, underground power plants in mines are quite common, which is why several show mines are on the list.