List of longest running hydroelectric power plants

This is a list of oldest hydroelectric power plants that are in operation.

Constructed in the 19th century

• Steigbachwerk, Immenstadt, Germany, 175 m. start 1880, 270 kW. 145 years old.
• Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant, Colorado, USA, constructed in 1890, 135 years old.
• Nagold Hydroelectric Plant, Germany, since 1893, 132132 years old ^[1]
• Mechanicville Hydroelectric Plant, USA, constructed in 1897, 128 years old.
• Mambach Hydroelectric Plant, Germany, constructed in 1897, 128 years old. ^[2]

Constructed in the 20th century

• Appleton Powerhouse, USA, 2.2MW, constructed in 1901, 124 years old. ^[3]
• Landara Hydroelectric Plant, Bolivia, opened 1902, 123 years old. ^[4]
• Quintana Hydroelectric Plant, Spain, operational since 1902, 123 years old. 18.45 metres, rated output of 7.8 MW, producing an annual average of 23 GWh
• Necaxa Hydroelectric Plant, Mexico, opened in 1905, 120 years old. Both the plant and parts of the original transmission line are still in service. ^[5]

Lockport Powerhouse, Illinois, USA, 1907. Now generating 13.4 MW on the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal.

• Keokuk Energy Center (Lock and Dam No. 19), Iowa, USA, 142MW, constructed in 1910. 115 years old.
• La Calera Hydroelectric Plant, Cordoba, Argentina, constructed in 1911. ^[6] 114 years old.
• Pharping Hydropower Station, Nepal, 500kW, constructed in 1911, 114 years old.
• Coyas Hydroelectric Plant, Chile, since 1911, ^[7] 114 years old
• Pilchowice Hydroelectric Plant, Poland, operational 1912, ^[8] 113 years old.
• Shilongba Hydropower Station, China, operational 1912, ^[9] 113 years old.
• Laufenburg Hydroelectric Plant, Germany/Switzerland, operational 1914, ^[10] 111 years old.
• Big Quinnesec Falls, USA, 4.4 MW, constructed in 1914, ^[3] 111 years old.
• Brule Power Station, Wisconsin, USA, 5.3 MW, constructed in 1919, 106 years old. ^[3]
• Fala Hydro Power Plant, Slovenia, constructed in 1918, 107 years old.

Defunct stations

• Rheinfelden Hydroelectric Plant, Germany/Switzerland, opened 1898, closed and demolished in 2010, serving 112 years. ^[11]

References

1. Wasserkraftwerk weckt die Neugierde der Nagolder (German)
2. [https://www.freiburg-schwarzwald.de/wasserkraft.htm#%C3%9Cber%2080%20Wasserkraftwerke%20im%20Kreis%20-%20gr%C3%B6%C3%9Ftes%20Kleinkraftwerk%20in%20Mambach Wasserkraft im Breisgau und Hochschwarzwald]
3. "Hydroelectric Power Plants | We Energies" . Retrieved 2024-02-16.
4. Potencial y aprovechamiento de la hidroenergía en Bolivia
5. Water power at Necaxa Falls in Mexico. Electrical World and Engineer, vol. 46, no. 18, p. 729-735. New York, October 28, 1905
6. Central La Calera
7. Hidroeléctricas Coya y Pangal
8. "Elektrownia wodna Pilchowice I."
9. Ghosh, Arunabh (2023). "Multiple makings at China's first hydroelectric power station at Shilongba, 1908–1912". History and Technology. 38 (2–3): 167–185. doi: 10.1080/07341512.2022.2112295 . ISSN   0734-1512. S2CID   252508871.
10. "Wasserkraftwerk Laufenburg". 2012-11-07.
11. Udo Leuschner: Energie-Chronik. Accessdate 2025-09-12.