The Corenno hydroelectric power plant
The Corenno hydroelectric power plant
Operational
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The Plant
The Corenno hydroelectric power plant
This plant, which was built between 1918 and 1924, is located in the municipality of Dervio (in the province of Lecco), on the shores of Lake Como. It is also known as the Gaetano Bonomi power plant, named after the engineer who designed it, or the Corenno Plinio power plant (after the hamlet where it is located, which forms part of Dervio). It uses water diverted from the Varrone stream via a large dam and four intake structures. The water flows through an approximately eight-kilometer-long canal to the Vestreno forebay, from which a penstock reaches the power plant.
The power plant is distinguished by two Moltrasio stone (a dark gray limestone) buildings in the Neo-Romanesque style, which blend elegantly into the surrounding landscape. It’s an excellent example of how engineering can combine energy needs with environmental harmony.
Technology
Hydroelectric
Status
Operational
Operating capacity
17,2 MW
Energy production
52.14 GWh per year
(based on 35 years of activity)
Energy demand
19,318 households per year
CO2 emissions avoided
18,249 tons per year
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Timeline
Milestone
Impact on local communities
The power plant features two Moltrasio stone buildings in the Neo-Romanesque style. This architectural solution gives the buildings unique charm, integrating them harmoniously with the surrounding environment. This is a perfect example of how engineering can combine energy needs with the protection of the environment and the surrounding landscape.
Dervio comes to life with new light
A new architectural lighting project now enhances the power plant, making it visible from the municipality of Dervio, the lake, and the shore. The project was conceived with the aim of further enhancing the beauty of the complex and, at the same time, contributing to a contemporary redesign of the area's nighttime skyline.
Light thus becomes a narrative element: the lighting fixtures highlight the Moltrasio stone and the geometry of the central body, the tower, and the mountain pipeline, creating a harmonious and evocative effect.
The plant uses remotely controlled fixtures that are capable of modulating different scenarios, with a particular focus on sustainability and low visual impact. It’s a reversible project that respects the setting, combining, once again in the case of this power plant, technological innovation and the enhancement of architectural heritage.
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