Construction of the Ré Bruyant Hydroelectric Power Plant in Bessans – From design to implementation, more than just a step!
Building on its design engineering expertise, HYDROSTADIUM is the technical lead of a consortium of companies (with TPLP and BIANCO) for the Design & Build of the new Ré Bruyant hydroelectric power plant in Bessans (73), in the Avérole valley. Work started at the end of May 2023 and should be completed in autumn with final commissioning scheduled for 2024.
Located at an altitude of 2,065 metres, the power plant partly supplied by the Grand Fond glacier, will be able to produce nearly 3 GWh annually, equivalent to the electricity consumption of nearly 1,000 people.
Progress on the works in figures:
- 370 l/s is the design flow rate of the water intake;
- 30 linear metres of tailrace channel pipeline already laid ;
- 600 linear metres of buried 20 kV cables;
- 1,160 linear metres of restrained cast-iron penstock, buried along 100% of its length.
Local renewable energy production by and for the municipality of Bessans
The Ré Bruyant hydropower plant project is an ambitious undertaking, with a total investment of approximately €3.5 million.
“This project, which lies at the heart of the energy transition challenges, is fully aligned with EDF Hydro’s development strategy; we are proud and honoured to carry it out in partnership with the municipality of Bessans, at the heart of a region where hydropower has demonstrated its advantages on a daily basis for several decades,” emphasises Frédéric Dazy – Director of EDF Small Hydro.
Once built, the Ré Bruyant hydropower plant will be operated by Hydro Bessans, a company jointly owned by EDF (40%) and the municipality of Bessans (60%).
This partnership has three main objectives:
- Ensure the development of the territory’s renewable energy potential, by drawing on an experienced energy company with a presence in the valley;
- Share the investment burden in order to protect the finances of the municipality and its municipal utility;
- Develop a project integrated into its environment, implemented in close consultation with local stakeholders.
This partnership enables the town hall to benefit from EDF Hydro’s technical expertise while participating in all major project decisions and monitoring its progress.
