Schmalz is continuing to invest in regenerative sources of energy and is thus again becoming a "positive-energy company", which means that it generates all of the energy it needs in a sustainable manner from wind power, biomass, solar power and, in the future, once again water power. After the recent decision to reactivate the water-power plant, the ground-breaking ceremony was held in the presence of the planners, the building contractors, the company management and the Mayor of Glatten, Tore-Derek Pfeifer. The old direct-flow turbine, which was taken out of service in 2001, will be overhauled and installed in the new turbine building. With a flow rate of 780 litres per second, a head of 4.85 metres and an annual output of about 150,000 KWh (at a rated power of 32 KW), the water-turbine plant will permit Schmalz to reduce its CO2 emissions by 124 tonnes per year. This is about the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by a car driven over distance of 824,000 kilometres.

A further component of the water-power plant is the retention basin, with an area of about 600 square metres, which collects rainwater and allows it to flow slowly through the water-power plant into the River Glatt. This basin compensates for the ground areas which will be sealed when the production buildings are extended in 2008. In addition to the retention basin, the company will create a biotope with an area of about 3,500 square metres, complete with a fish ladder beside the weir, which will be open to all employees and, as part of the company's ecological guided tour, to the general public.