Voltalia starts production at 4.5 MW Taconnaz hydropower plant in Chamonix and Les Houches

Voltalia has started production at its 4.5 MW run-of-the-river hydropower plant on the Taconnaz torrent in the Haute-Savoie department (France). It benefits from a 20- year contract signed with the Régie Électrique des Houches.

After one year and three months of construction work at the foot of the Taconnaz glacier in Haute-Savoie, the Voltalia hydropower plant has produced its first kilowatt hours. Its final commissioning comes before the winter season and will allow the plant to produce at full capacity in spring, as ice melts naturally.

The production of the Taconnaz power plant will ensure the power consumption of 10,400 inhabitants, equivalent to 90% of the combined population of Chamonix and Les Houches, the two municipalities on which it is established. These two municipalities are shareholders of the project, with a 33% total stake. 

The Taconnaz power plant helps the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley to reach its target of a minimum of 20% renewable energy in its final energy consumption by 2020.

Voltalia worked with local players, including Benedetti-Guelpa and Girus engineering consultants. The construction works regarding the plant itself were carried out by Serhy. Voltalia also favored French manufacturing when choosing equipment, with HPP for the turbine and Leroy-Somer for the alternator.