Artificial snowmaking network turbine operation at Serre-Chevalier

Project owner Serre-Chevalier - Domaine Skiable

Type of project Construction of a small hydropower plant in Chantemerle, Hautes-Alpes (05)

Serre-Chevalier (SCV) Domaine Skiable wished to install a small hydropower plant on its artificial snowmaking network at Chantemerle, harnessing the water of the Peytavin torrent. The project began in 2018 with potential, feasibility and preliminary design studies carried out by Hydrostadium. This hydropower plant is the first in France to use the infrastructure of an existing artificial snowmaking network. The term « HydroNeige^® » was created.

Main technical features

The development comprises: a lateral intake on the Peytavin torrent; level regulation in a former drinking-water reservoir; a spherical bottom outlet valve; a vertical, single-jet PELTON turbine (180 kW) supplied by French turbine manufacturer HPP; an asynchronous generator; and a tailrace with its receiving tank.

Ski resort mini power plant