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The project
The Roncovalgrande hydroelectric power plant
The plant is located on Lake Maggiore, in the municipality of Maccagno (Varese province), almost on the border with Switzerland. At 1,040 MW, it is the second largest hydroelectric power plant in Italy – after Entracque – and one of the largest in Europe. It was built in a cavern carved entirely into the mountain, whose access tunnel is about 220 meters long. The power plant, which is a pumped-storage system, uses the difference in height between Lake Maggiore and Lake Delio, a glacial lake located 700 meters higher up. The plant consists of eight generating and pumping units. The Delio plant stores water drawn from Lake Maggiore and during the hours of highest energy demand it is released downhill through pipelines to produce electricity.
Technology
Hydroelectric
Status
Operational
Operating Capacity
1,040 MW
Energy production:
408 GWh annually
Average production achieved in the last three representative years.
CO2 emissions avoided
187,199 tons per year
Energy needs met
151,000 households per year
Timeline
Milestones
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Impact on local communities
The plant is located in an area with a strong focus on history, tourism, and nature, and is also a destination for organized tours.