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The project
Vizzola Ticino hydroelectric power plant
The plant is located in the municipality of Vizzola Ticino, inside the Lombard Park of the Ticino Valley, in the province of Varese. It is a run-of-river power plant that uses water from the Ticino River and thus from Lake Maggiore, through a canal called the "Industrial Canal".
It is one of the oldest hydroelectric plants in Italy: it was officially inaugurated on October 9, 1901, in the presence of King Victor Emmanuel III. Between 1935 and 1938, the plant underwent complete renovation, under the direction of the architect Giovanni Muzio, a prominent figure in the artistic movement known as the Novecento. This project also brought the plant’s power up to 31.5 MW.
This historically significant power plant represents the perfect union of past and future and is an important step in power generation using run-of-river technology.
Technology
Hydroelectric
Status
Operational
Operating Capacity
31.5 MW
Energy production:
202 GWh annually
Average production achieved in the last three representative years.
CO2 emissions avoided
97,755 metric tons per year
Energy needs met
About 75,000 households per year
Timeline
Milestones
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Impact on local communities
The power plant is located inside the Lombard Park of the Ticino Valley, Italy's first regional park and Europe's first river park. The industrial canal, which is more than 15 km in length, is enjoyed by local people and visitors alike; a bicycle and pedestrian path has been built along the entire length of the canal’s towpath, which is popular with families, amateur sportspeople and tourists. In addition, water used for the irrigation of nearby fields also flows through the plant.