Und dann verschwindet der See: Unsere zweite Reise tief hinein in den Bauch des Schwarzwalds

FORBACH, MAY 2026 | The Schwarzenbach Dam is being lowered for the fourth time in its over 100-year history. This is due to extensive maintenance and construction work – including the connection of a new pumped-storage power plant deep within the Black Forest. KraichgauTV was on site and brought back extraordinary insights both above and below ground. These are images rarely seen: Where water usually dominates the view, mud, exposed riverbanks, and massive construction vehicles suddenly prevail. The lowering of the Schwarzenbach Dam is a rare event – ​​the last time this happened was in 1997, and before that in 1952 and 1935. About our series “Where does electricity come from?” For our series “Where does electricity come from?”, reporter Matthias Kampp ventured beyond our broadcast area and traveled to Forbach. It was worth it, because together with Jonas Hauser (EnBW), he gained exclusive insights into the work above and below ground – from enormous tunnel systems to the areas where work is already underway on the energy project of the future. This involves far more than classic renovation work on concrete or metal components. Deep inside the mountain, a new pumped-storage power plant is being built – a so-called cavern power plant, which will be directly connected to the reservoir. A major engineering project, hidden beneath the forests of the Black Forest. A century-long project underground The work is scheduled for completion by October 2026. Only then will the reservoir be fully refilled. During the construction phase, there will be repeated temporary closures of individual paths around the dam. Entering the lowered basin is also strictly prohibited: The muddy subsoil is considered extremely dangerous and can become life-threatening even with slight sinking. Our film not only showcases the sheer scale of the construction site, but also the enormous technical achievement behind modern hydropower. Amidst heavy machinery, dark tunnels, and impressive engineering, one thing becomes clear: a structure is being built here that is likely to shape the region for decades to come. Join us as we delve into the heart of the Black Forest – to where water, technology, and energy converge, and where energy history continues to be written. #KraichgauTV #SchwarzenbachDam #EnBW #CavestoragePowerPlant ___________________________________ KraichgauTV is regional television for the area north of Karlsruhe. We publish weekly film reports and features on our portals, and a selection of them is also available here on YouTube with a slight delay. OUR PORTALS The complete weekly program: https://kraichgau.tv Individual film reports, regional news, and features: https://landfunker.de Our own job and training portal: https://kraichgau.tv/jobs (Here you will be redirected to our media company, where you will also find internship and apprenticeship opportunities for media professions in print, web, and video.)