After 14 years of hard work and intensive testing, the Nant de Drance pumped storage power plant in Valais, Switzerland, was put into operation on 1 July 2022. The project is a high-altitude, large-scale project (900 MW), with roughly 17 km of tunnels, 1.7 million m3 of rock excavated, 400+ workers on site, and an investment of more than CHF 2 billion. Congratulations to owners Alpiq (39%), SBB CFF FFS (36%), IWB Industrielle Werke Basel (IWB) (15%) and FMV SA (10%). Kudos to Hitachi Energy (at the time a part of ABB) for development of, among other cutting-edge technologies, the sophisticated generator transformers and circuit breakers. The full inauguration of the plant is set for September. . . . note to all my friends in Zurich and nearby, the general public will have the opportunity to explore the amazing plant during open-door events on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September 2022. I would be there if I lived there!
Kent Knutson
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