The Munich Startup Energyminer sets another milestone: After a successful pilot project in the Auer Mühlbach stream in Munich, the company has now received approval for a novel swarm power plant in the Lech River near Augsburg. This marks the beginning of a scientifically supported test phase in a Bavarian river in cooperation with Prof. Geist of the Technical University of Munich.
The heart of the technology is the “Energyfish”, a floating micro-hydropower plant that operates entirely without dams or structural interventions. Instead, it harnesses the river's natural flow to generate electricity – quiet, weather-independent, and virtually invisible beneath the water's surface. The facility leaves the river habitat untouched and poses no threat to fish or the surrounding landscape.
The city of Augsburg's permit initially allows for the temporary, controlled installation of five Energyfish systems in the Lech River. However, commissioning will only take place once the first positive results of the study are available. Investigations of the pilot plant in Munich are currently underway. The goal is to identify and assess potential impacts on the ecosystem at an early stage.
From the outset, Energyminer has placed great emphasis on transparency, environmental sustainability, and dialogue with all stakeholders. The project aims to demonstrate how renewable energies can be used responsibly in a river-ecologically sound manner while simultaneously contributing to the energy transition. The system generates CO₂-free electricity around the clock and is considered baseload capable—a decisive advantage over weather-dependent technologies such as wind power or photovoltaics.
According to Energyminer, a swarm of up to 100 Energyfish systems could continuously supply up to 470 households with electricity. In addition to its ecological design, the solution also offers economic advantages: According to the company, investment costs can be reduced by up to 88 percent compared to conventional systems. Furthermore, installation takes only a few hours, with a permitting period of just a few months.
