La Malva Hydroelectric Power Station

The Spanish power station known as La Malva, with more than a hundred years of history, is still generating energy and is one of the oldest still in operation. Its construction was possible thanks to the creation of Saltos de Agua de Somiedo in 1913, a company that marked the beginning of Hidroeléctrica del Cantábrico, S.A., one of the main energy producing companies in the country. Among the promoters of this company were José Tartiere y Lenegre, Policarpo Herrero and Narciso Hernández Vaquero.

The power station was built in 1915 and began operating in 1917. Located in La Cueva de la Malva along the river Somiedo in Asturias. This power station, fed mainly by the Saliencia Valley rivers, has four generators supplied by leading companies in the electricity sector, such as Escher Wyss & Cº and Brown Bovery.

The power station building is an outstanding example of early 20th century industrial architecture, displaying the company logo, "H.C", on its façade, together with the year of construction, 1915. Its meticulous design employs materials such as masonry and ashlar in various parts of the building. It has concrete foundations and machine bases, as well as beams dividing the openings in the facades. Large windows allow light to enter the interior of the building. The building consists of two adjacent sections: a lower machine room and a second four-storey section for electrical equipment. It also includes areas for administration, workshops and services.