The plant operates using a 4-meter elevation difference between the lake and the power station. Water from the lake first passes through a 435-meter earthen dam, then enters a closed concrete penstock that stretches 490 meters and measures 2.5 meters in diameter.
From the penstock, water is divided: part is released into a tailrace channel through a metal sluice gate, returning to the local stream, while the rest is pumped to a rooftop surge tank, standing 9.2 meters high. When the surge tank overflows, water is directed downward with force into a specialized chamber inside the plant.
During its descent, the water drives three pairs of open Francis-type turbines mounted on horizontal shafts. The turbines transfer their rotational energy to electromagnetic generators, producing alternating current (AC) electricity.
This SHPP is a brilliant example of early renewable energy engineering, integrating lake, dam, penstock, surge tank, turbines, and generators into a single, efficient system that continues to inspire modern hydroelectric design.
The Small Hydroelectric Power Plant (SHPP) Agia is more than an energy facility—it is a vital landmark of local industrial heritage. As a pioneering project of early 20th-century Crete, it is deeply embedded in Chania's modern history and remains a significant part of the local community's collective memory. Today, the plant holds historical, technological, social, architectural, and scientific value.
The SHPP was designed by Italian engineer Prinzivalli and Swiss engineer Sen, in collaboration with a team of engineers from Heraklion - their vision combined functionality with a modern approach to industrial architecture.
The plant exemplifies modern industrial design:
Minimalist aesthetic with no decorative elements.
Exposed load-bearing structures emphasizing structural clarity.
Clear separation of functional areas, including the generator hall, the power distribution tower, and the water tank/drop shaft.
The plant’s electromechanical equipment, manufactured by the German company AEG, represented state-of-the-art technology at the time. The combination of advanced engineering, functional architecture, and pioneering machinery makes the SHPP a remarkable example of Crete’s industrial and scientific heritage.

Source: Archive of A. Vazakas – M. Mandalakis

As the electricity demand grows, the Public Power Corporation (PPC) has expanded its energy infrastructure while repurposing decommissioned power stations to benefit local communities. In this spirit, the former Small Hydroelectric Power Plant of Agia has been transformed into an Exhibition Hall for Renewable Energy Sources.
Goals of the Exhibition Hall:
a. Awareness and Education
The hall aims to inform visitors about:
b. Recreation and Nature
The power plant and the Agia wetland are also popular destinations for walkers and nature enthusiasts.
Region of Crete
(Head of Project and funder)
Regional Development Company of Crete S.A.
(Project execution)
Technical Chamber of Greece / Western Crete Section
(Coordinator of Educational activities)
Regional Development Company of Crete S.A.
Εfstratios Flemetakis, President, Regional Councilor of Crete
Maria Petrantonaki, Director, Physicist
Alexandros Vazakas, Architect, Assoc. Prof. School of Architecture, Technical University of Crete
Theocharis Tsoutsos, Chemical Engineer, Prof. Chemical & Environmental Engineering School, Technical University of Crete
Nikos Anastasakis, Physics Prof., Head of E.K.F.E. (Laboratory Center of Physics Science), Chania
Maria Petrantonaki, Physicist, Rep. of Regional Development Company of Crete S.A.
Matthaios Frantzeskakis, President of the Cultural Society of Crete
Panagiotis Bourbourakis, Director of Small Hydroelectric Power Plants P.P.C. Renewables S.A.
Maria Mavroidi, Historian - Industrial Archaeologist, Head of P.P.C. Historical Archives
Alexandros Vazakas, Architect, Assoc. Prof. School of Architecture, Technical University of Crete
Myrto Kontomitaki, Museologist - Art Historian
Nikos Anastasakis, Physics Prof., Head of E.K.F.E. (Laboratory Center of Physics Science), Chania
Michalis Dretakis, Ornithologist, Researcher, Natural History Museum of Crete
Graphic Design: Inglelandi Digital Agency