Voltalia wins its first hydropower project in Metropolitan France

Voltalia, a international renewable energy player, has announced it has been selected by the municipalities of Chamonix-Mont Blanc and les Houches in France for the construction and operation of a 4.5 MW run of the river hydropower plant, on the Taconnaz torrent.

The Taconnaz hydropower project follows the call for proposals launched on August 12, 2015 by the Chamonix-Mont Blanc and Les Houches municipalities. It is part of the Haute-Savoie Territorial Energy Climate Plan1, which has set a 20% target of renewable energy in the region’s final energy consumption in 2020. The plant is expected to cover the annual electrical consumption of about 4,800 households, close to 90% of both communes’ population. The hydropower plant should be commissioned in 2019, and the secured energy sales contract secured runs over a 20-year period.

The Taconnaz torrent rises under the Mont Blanc glacier of the same name. Featuring one of the best hydro potential in the valley, the selected waterfall has been identified by Voltalia long before the call for projects. The site is already extensively developed and features a snow fence; therefore, Voltalia can benefit from existing infrastructures.

The company teamed with renowned local partners: the civil engineering company Benedetti-Guelpa and the engineering firm Girus.

Furthermore, Voltalia’s hydropower plant provides the municipalities two types of revenues: not only will they receive royalties throughout the project’s life, but they will also have the option to buy into the capital of Voltalia’s dedicated project company.

Sébastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia, said:

“We are very proud that our project has been selected and that our local and collaborative approach as well as our technical expertise were distinguished by both municipalities.”