The Venaus hydroelectric power plant

The hybrid solution developed at Venaus is an innovative and sustainable example of the integration of hydroelectric and solar energy. The floating installation not only enables the combined production of clean energy from two renewable sources, but also offers a number of environmental and functional advantages. First and foremost, the solar panels do not require new land: they already use a man-made surface, thereby reducing the consumption of agricultural or natural land. The impact on the landscape is minimal, as the infrastructure overlaps with a pre-existing artificial structure. A further benefit is the reduction in water evaporation, aided by the shade provided by the panels. This is a strategic measure that protects water availability, and is particularly valuable at a time of climate change and increasingly frequent droughts.

In order to facilitate the installation of the continuous cycle desedimentation system, the sediment at the bottom of the basin was removed and dumped in an adjacent area owned by Enel. Paulownia trees were then planted here so that the steep terrain could be stabilized and CO_₂ could be absorbed.

The continuous desedimentation system, which is integrated with the floating photovoltaic plant, consists of two main elements: agitators positioned under the floating structure, which promote the natural flow of silt, and a dredging raft, which sucks up the sediment and conveys it downstream from Venaus to the hydraulic structure, which is connected to the Mompantero hydroelectric plant.

Thanks to extreme dilution, the sediment can also pass through the hydraulic turbine and then be released into the bed of the Cenischia stream. In this way, the Venaus basin regains its original capacity, completely restoring its hydroelectric regulation capacity, which is essential in a period of sustained growth for renewable energy plants.

In addition to the floating photovoltaic plant, which was built in collaboration with local institutions, three photovoltaic plants with a total power of 45 kW have been installed on the roofs of municipal buildings in the town of Venaus. Furthermore, a roof will be built for the local market, which is currently held outdoors. These initiatives are examples of our attention to the local area and the communities that live near the places where we operate.

These are small plants, but they have great significance: they promote the availability of electricity, improve the environmental impact of existing hydroelectric plants, thereby enhancing slow and sustainable tourism, and they make a tangible contribution to the energy transition. They are the symbol of a shared approach to sustainable development, based on collaboration, listening, and synergy with local administrative bodies. When the public and private sectors work together, the benefits multiply: for the environment, for the social fabric, and for the local economy.