Vereinigung Wasserkraftwerke

What Vereinigung Wasserkraftwerke does

Vereinigung Wasserkraftwerke in Bayern e.V. (VWB) is a registered membership association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1984 and headquartered in Munich at Karolinenplatz 5a. It represents the collective interests of small and medium-sized hydropower plant operators across Bavaria — primarily craft and commercial businesses operating run-of-river plants, historic mill turbine systems, and modern automated facilities. Membership extends to all supporters of Bavarian hydropower, not only active operators, and the approximately 4,000 Bavarian hydropower plants that VWB represents collectively generate around 12.5 billion kWh of electricity annually, sufficient to supply approximately 4 million Bavarian households.

VWB's core offerings are membership-based services rather than commercial products. These include expert consulting on legal, economic, and engineering questions related to plant operation, modernization, and new construction; political advocacy with Bavarian and German legislators, authorities, and energy providers; and informational products such as the eleven-part 'Faktenreihe zur Wasserkraft' fact series, the 'Check It' children's educational brochure for ages 5-12, and trade publications 'Wassertriebwerk' and 'Wasserkraft & Energie.' The association coordinates the annual 'Tage der Wasserkraft' (Days of Hydropower) public outreach event under the Bavarian Energy Days program. Its technology focus is on conventional hydropower generation, including Kaplan, Pelton, Francis, and DIVE turbines, fish ladders, automatic rake cleaners, and grid-stabilization features such as blackstart capability and momentary reserve.

VWB is funded entirely through annual membership dues structured as a base fee of 130 EUR (plants up to 30 kW) or 160 EUR (plants over 30 kW) plus 1.80 EUR per kW of installed capacity. Membership includes bundled access to the Bundesverband Deutscher Wasserkraftwerke (BDW), Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energien (BEE), and European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF). The association is non-profit, governed by three chairpersons (Fritz Schweiger, Hermann Steinmaßl, and Dr. Martin Schröder), and operated by a small Munich office of 3-5 staff led by Dr. Josef M. J. Rampl, with no external investors.

Name

Vereinigung Wasserkraftwerke

Legal name

Vereinigung Wasserkraftwerke in Bayern e.V.

Website

https://wasserkraft-bayern.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vereinigung Wasserkraftwerke in Bayern e.V. (VWB) is a Munich-based registered membership association founded in 1984 that advocates for Bavarian hydropower plant operators. It delivers consulting, political representation, and public outreach to thousands of small and medium craft hydropower businesses across Bavaria, Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Annual membership fees consisting of a base fee plus 1.80 euros per kW of installed capacity. Power plants up to 30 kW pay a base fee of 130 euros, power plants over 30 kW pay a base fee of 160 euros. This includes contributions to the Bundesverband Deutscher Wasserkraftwerke e.V. and Bundesverband Erneuerbarer Energien e.V. as well as European associations. No entrance fee is charged.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Vereinigung Wasserkraftwerke in Bayern e.V. (VWB) is a registered non-profit trade association founded in 1984 that represents the interests of small and medium-sized hydropower plant operators across Bavaria. The association provides expert consulting, political advocacy, public outreach, educational materials, and networking services to its members, who collectively operate approximately 4,000 of Germany's 7,300 hydropower plants generating around 12.5 billion kWh annually.

Product overview

Vereinigung Wasserkraftwerke in Bayern e.V. (VWB) is a non-profit trade association representing Bavaria's hydropower operators. Rather than offering a unified software platform, VWB provides a portfolio of member services and informational products including two professional publications (Wassertriebwerk and Wasserkraft & Energie), educational materials for children (Check It brochure), an annual public event program (Tage der Wasserkraft), and a comprehensive fact-check series on hydropower topics. The association primarily serves its members through advocacy, information sharing, and networking rather than commercial product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VWB Membership
• Wassertriebwerk
• Wasserkraft & Energie
• Check It - Children's Brochure on Hydropower
• Faktenreihe zur Wasserkraft (Hydropower Fact Series)

Quantifiable outcome

• Bavarian hydropower generates 12.5 billion kWh annually, enough for 4 million households
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Bundesverband Wärmepumpe e.V. (BWP)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Partnership announced June 2026 between BDW (with VWB participation) and BWP to explore synergies between hydropower electricity generation and water body heat extraction using heat pumps. Both associations aim to advance renewable heating from water bodies and identify regulatory barriers.
• Bundesverband Deutscher Wasserkraftwerke e.V. (BDW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational-level association representing hydropower plant operators in Germany, founded in 1960. The VWB is a member of the BDW, which encompasses eleven state associations representing approximately 2,700 individual members. BDW headquarters at EUREF-Campus 16, 10829 Berlin.
• Landesverband Bayerischer Wasserkraftwerke eG (LVBW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian state-level cooperative of hydropower operators. VWB works closely with LVBW on joint initiatives, events, and policy positions. LVBW headquarters at Sandweg 1a, 93161 Sinzing. Vorstandsvorsitzender: Hans-Peter Lang.
• Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie e.V. (BEE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association for renewable energy in Germany. VWB membership includes BEE membership. BEE represents the interests of all renewable energy sectors at the federal level.
• European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF) - Small Hydropower ChaptermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean-level association for renewable energies. VWB participates in the Small Hydropower Chapter of EREF, advocating for hydropower interests at the European level.
• Vereinigung der bayerischen Wirtschaft (vbw)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian Economic Association representing business interests in Bavaria. VWB partners with vbw on energy policy positions and advocacy for hydropower in Bavaria.
• LEE Bayern (Landesverband Erneuerbare Energien Bayern)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level association for renewable energies in Bavaria. VWB collaborates with LEE Bayern on industry events, policy advocacy, and public outreach. LEE Bayern logo appears on VWB website as supporter/partner.
• Team Energiewende Bayern (Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerTeam within the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs coordinating the Bavarian Energy Days (Bayerische Energietage) program. VWB partners with Team Energiewende for the annual 'Tage der Wasserkraft' public outreach event.
• Landesverband Erneuerbare Energien (LEE) BayernmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo appears on VWB website as supporter. VWB participates in LEE Bayern events and activities, including joint press trips and industry days.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Landesverband Bayerischer Wasserkraftwerke eG (LVBW): Bavarian cooperative of hydropower operators working in close partnership with VWB on joint initiatives, events, and policy positions. Operates in the same geographic territory with overlapping member base and shared policy positions, functioning as a sibling organization.
• LEE Bayern (Landesverband Erneuerbare Energien Bayern): State-level umbrella association for renewable energies in Bavaria. VWB collaborates with LEE Bayern on events, policy advocacy, and joint press initiatives — operating in the same geographic territory but covering all renewable sectors rather than just hydropower.
• Bundesverband Deutscher Wasserkraftwerke e.V. (BDW): National German hydropower industry association that serves as VWB's federal umbrella body. BDW represents 11 state associations and approximately 2,700 individual members, making it the closest structural peer at the federal level with overlapping mission, member profile, and advocacy portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• International Hydropower Association (IHA): Global hydropower industry association representing the sector worldwide. Provides international sustainability guidelines, best practices, and global policy advocacy that inform and reinforce VWB's domestic advocacy positions.
• Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energien e.V. (BEE): National umbrella association for all renewable energy sectors in Germany. VWB's membership is bundled through BDW into BEE, positioning VWB as a specialized sub-association under this broader renewables umbrella that handles cross-sector federal lobbying.
• European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF): European-level federation representing renewable energy interests, including the Small Hydropower Chapter in which VWB participates. Provides the supranational advocacy layer for EU directives such as the Water Framework Directive consultations.
• BDEW Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft: The main German energy and water industry association at federal level, representing energy suppliers, grid operators, and municipal utilities. Many of VWB's members are municipal utilities (e.g., Gemeindewerke Ismaning), making BDEW a relevant broad industry peer for cross-sector policy alignment.

Others

• Bundesverband Wärmepumpe e.V. (BWP): German heat pump industry association that entered a strategic June 2026 partnership with BDW (with VWB participation) to explore water-body heat extraction synergies. Operates in the adjacent renewable heating sector without direct competition with VWB.
• Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft (vbw): Bavarian Economic Association representing broader business interests across all sectors. VWB partners with vbw on energy policy positions, making vbw a strategic ally and indirect peer in regional advocacy efforts targeting the Bavarian state government.
• Verband kommunaler Unternehmen (VKU): German association of municipal utilities, many of which operate small hydropower plants (e.g., municipal works like Gemeindewerke Ismaning that are VWB members). Provides a peer channel for the municipal operator segment of VWB's constituency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wasserkraft_vwb
• Facebookfacebook.com/WasserkraftBayern
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/wasserkraftbayern
• Instagraminstagram.com/wasserkraftbayern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vereinigung Wasserkraftwerke