Transformer for the Tauernbach power plant has arrived – the starting signal for power supply!

Transformer for the Tauernbach power plant has arrived – the starting signal for power supply!

On November 4, 2025, significant progress was made in the construction of the diversion power plant on the Tauernbach in Matrei in East Tyrol. Loud Dolomite town A remarkable transformer weighing 65.19 tons was delivered, which was manufactured in Regensburg, Bavaria. The delivery took place as part of a special transport that led via Vienna, Graz and Klagenfurt to the Tauern Valley. In order to minimize safety risks, the last kilometers were covered in the night hours.

With the arrival of the transformer, the electrical installations that are crucial for the operation of the power plant now begin. The construction of the powerhouse in Gruben is nearing completion as the final concrete work is currently being carried out. In addition, the water catchment in the upper area of ​​the construction site is almost complete.

Progress and plans

Further construction work envisages that the electrical and mechanical equipment as well as the installation of the fish belly flap will take place during the winter. The underground pressure tunnel, 2.3 kilometers long, was successfully completed. In this context, work on the pressure pipeline to the powerhouse is scheduled to be completed in November after the Tauernbach and Transalpine oil pipelines have been crossed.

Environmental and dismantling measures are also part of the project. The dismantling of the construction site facilities and the recultivation measures will begin this year. The ecological compensation measures include, among other things, water ecological measures and the creation of new habitats for insects and microorganisms. These measures are planned until next summer.

Electrical energy and investments

Trial operation of the new power plant is planned for early summer 2026. The power plant will have a generating capacity of around 85 gigawatt hours of electricity, which corresponds to the annual needs of around 20,000 households. TIWAG is investing around 175 million euros in the entire project to ensure a sustainable and efficient energy supply.

A transformer, like the one now delivered, is a passive component that transfers electrical energy from one or more circuits to another without there being a metallic connection between the circuits. Transformers are critical for changing AC voltage levels and provide galvanic isolation between circuits. They vary in size and can range from small units to massive devices such as the current transformer, which weighs several tons. Their efficiency is typically between 98 and 99 percent, making them essential components in electricity transmission, such as Wikipedia explained.

As construction work on the Tauernbach progresses, it remains to be seen how the ecological component of the project will develop, particularly with regard to the diversity promoted by new habitats. TIWAG's investments in this infrastructure demonstrate its focus on a sustainable energy future.