A shaft power plant for generating electricity by energy conversion of an outflow between upper water and lower water in a river includes at least two power plant modules, each having a vertical shaft with an open top and a shaft crown forming an inflow plane. The inflow plane is substantially parallel with the river bed and extends below a water level of the upper water. Each of the power plant modules also has a turbine generator unit arranged in the shaft. The power plant also includes an ecological connecting channel formed as an outflow from the upper water into the lower water without generating electricity by energy conversion.