Watermills in the historic irrigation system ‘Palmeral de Elche’, Spain: an example of early hydropower exploitation

A technical survey of 11 watermills in the UNESCO-listed Palmeral de Elche, Spain, reveals early hydropower exploitation within a historic Islamic-era irrigation system. These mills, operational until the last century, featured horizontal turbine-type waterwheels with hydraulic heads ranging from 2 to over 15 meters, demonstrating sophisticated engineering for flour production and energy dissipation in a multipurpose canal network. The study provides dimensions and technical parameters, offering insights into mill operation, power yield, and flour production within this unique European palm grove.

Melendez-Pastor, I., Pedreño, J. N., & Wittenberg, H. (2015). Watermills in the historic irrigation system ‘Palmeral de Elche’, Spain: an example of early hydropower exploitation. Water Supply, 15(5), 1140–1151. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2015.067