Every year, students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Brno University of Technology go on a several-day excursion focused on energy facilities, and this year was no different.

From September 9 to 12, 2025, a group of students from the Energy Institute, mainly specializing in Fluid Engineering, but also from other fields, visited the Vltava Cascade and surrounding energy facilities.

From the BOKU laboratory in Austria to the ČEPS control room

The first stop was the BOKU Hydraulic Structures Laboratory in Vienna, where river flow is modeled on a 1:1 scale thanks to unique conditions. This was followed by a visit to the Lipno I hydroelectric power plant, where students took a look not only inside the dam, but also in the engine room itself.

The program also included a visit to the wastewater treatment plant and water treatment plant in České Budějovice, the Slapy hydroelectric power plant (with a unique opportunity to look inside a decommissioned turbine), the Štěchovice pumped storage hydroelectric power plant, and a final stop at the Czech Transmission System Dispatching Center.

Not just knowledge, but also experiences

The excursion was not just about technology – there was also time for joint activities and informal meetings, such as an evening barbecue.

One of the participants summed up the atmosphere best: "Even though I'm not exactly a fluid engineering student, I enjoyed the excursion to the fullest. It was fascinating to see places that you don't normally get to see. What's more, it helped me a lot in my first semester – I met new people and, thanks to the overlap between subjects, we now meet at school as well. The whole event was very friendly and I can't recommend it enough!"

The organizers are already planning next year's trip. This time, students will embark on a "northern journey" that will take them to water and energy facilities in northern Bohemia and northern Moravia, culminating in a visit to the Dlouhé stráně pumped storage power plant.