In the past, water mills were mainly used to generate power to avoid heavy labor on a small industrial scale. In the early 1900s, there were already adjustments to generate electricity. Often direct current with a shunt generator.

This already shows that it is certainly possible with modern techniques to make a water mill suitable for generating electricity. The first step is always to find a suitable part to take the power off. Often that is the incoming shaft or a cog wheel further on. In some cases the shaft can be used directly because it is precise enough to set up an industrial gearbox.

If that is not the case, we still go to an industrial gearbox with a chain transmission. The generator can then be mounted on it immediately. We try to design as compactly as possible and to use as few gears as possible, as this leads to a loss of efficiency. But sometimes it is necessary as the weakest link.

The following projects have been successfully adapted:

• Dutch water museum
• Moulin Garnaud