History

WKV is one of the leading manufacturers of small- and medium-sized hydropower plants worldwide.

It all started in 1979 in the barn of the Gernhansen Farm in Simonswald (Southern Black Forest, Germany) where the first hydropower plant was designed and built. The small company grew steadily thereafter to become a limited liability company in 1986, and finally to evolved into a corporation in 1997.

Throughout its 20+ year history the company has produced hundreds of small and medium sized hydropower plants, which in more than 30 countries around the world, in Europe, South and Central America, Africa, Asia, produce environment-friendly power. Nowadays, WKV intends to focus not only on the manufacturing of equipment, but also increasingly on operating its own facilities be it in Germany or abroad.

Highlights of WKV's history

1979		Construction of the first hydropower plant and founding of WKV, Simonswald (Southern Black Forest, Germany)
1985		Contract from GTZ (Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit - Society for Technical Cooperation) for the construction of hydropower stations in Peru, South America.
1986		Founding of Wasserkraft Volk GmbH, a limited liability company, by Manfred Volk.
1997		Wasserkraft Volk GmbH hires its 20th employee and becomes a corporation.
1999		Two increases in capital allow us to proceed with the construction of our new state-of-the-art factory. Ground-breaking occurs in May in Gutach (Black Forest, Germany) for this new facility including its own 320 kW powerplant.
2000		As planned, both Francis turbines are commissioned and turned over for industrial operation for year's end. WKV staff and partners celebrate the end of the millennium in the plant's main hall. The state-of-the-art factory in Gutach starts operating in May. A further capital increase is intended to allow the company to expand its activities beyond the manufacturing of turbines into the construction and operation of its own powerplants worldwide.
2001		The 50th employee is hired. WKV receives the order from World Radio Missionary Fellowship Inc. (HCJB), Ecuador for water-to-wire supply of a 2.2 MW Pelton unit.
2002		WKV secures one of the biggest single order of its history, the SIBIMBE 15 MW station along with 2 Francis turbines and associated equipment for Ecuador where it will supply approximately 35 000 households with power in the year ahead.
2003		WKV's best year so far with the biggest turnover of its history.