section through the standard shipping container 1 is shown in the lower part of fig1 a turbine 9 and a switch box 10 being shown schematically the switch box 10 representing all the components which are necessary for converting the mechanical kinetic energy of the turbine into electrical energy the electrical energy generated is guided through a cable 8 to a consumer unit or fed into an existing network the arrangement shown corresponds essentially to the already known prior art a first alternative embodiment of the energy generating unit according to the invention is shown in fig2 the standard shipping container 4 is arranged in the body of water 1 the inside of the standard shipping container 4 is equipped as in the example shown in fig1 or fig3 the standard shipping container 4 divides the flow of water into a part that flows through the channel 7 through the inside of the standard shipping container 4 and discharges its energy to the turbine there and a part that flows laterally past and under the standard shipping container 4 according to the invention at the sides that face the bank and the bed of the body of water 2 the standard shipping container 4 has flow barriers 11 which reduce the flow of water in the edge area the flow of water around the standard shipping container 4 is decelerated but is not completely stopped in this partial flow of the body of water fish and other aquatic animals are able to pass by the energy generating unit unharmed other flow barriers which are attached from the bankside in such a way that a meandering flow of water occurs are not shown in fig2 in.