Grande Dixence Dam

The Grande Dixence Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Dixence River at the
head of the Val d'Hrens in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. At 285 m (935
ft) high, it is the tallest gravity dam in the world and is part of the CleusonDixence Complex. With the primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation,
the dam fuels four power stations, totaling the installed capacity to 2,069 MW,
generating approximately 2,000 GWh annually, enough to power 400,000 Swiss
households.
The dam withholds Lac des Dix (Lake Dix), its reservoir. With a surface area of 4
km, it is the second largest lake in Valais and the largest lake above 2,000 m
in the Alps. The reservoir receives its water from four different pumping
stations; the ZMutt, Stafel, Ferpcle and Arolla. At peak capacity, it contains
approximately 400,000,000 m3 (1.41010 cu ft) of water, with depths reaching
up to 284 m (932 ft).[1] Construction on the dam began in 1950 and was
completed in 1964, before officially commissioning in 1965.
History
In 1922, Energie Ouest Suisse (EOS) became established with a few small
power stations. To generate substantial amount of electricity, EOS looked to the
Valais canton which contains 56% of Switzerland's glaciers and stores the
largest amount of water in Europe. In 1927, EOS acquired the license for the
upper Dixence basin. In 1929, 1,200 workers constructed the first Dixence dam
which would be complete in 1935. The first dam would supply water to the
Chandoline Power Station which has a capacity of 120 MW.[2]
After the Second World War, growing industries needed electricity and
construction on the Cleuson Dam began in 1947 and was completed in 1951.
Plans for the Super Dixence Dam were now being finalized by the recently
founded company, Grande Dixence SA. Construction on the Super Dixence Dam
soon began later in 1950. By 1964, 3,000 workers had finished pouring
6,000,000 m3 (210,000,000 cu ft) of concrete, completing the dam. The
original Dixence dam was submerged by the filling of Lac des Dix beginning in
1957, it can still be seen when the reservoir level is low.[2]
In the 1980s, Grande Dixence SA and EOS began the Cleuson-Dixence project
which improved the quality of electricity produced by building new tunnels
along with the Bieudron Power Station. By the time the Cleuson-Dixence
Complex was complete, the power generated had more than doubled.[2]
The construction of the dam was documented in the short film Opration bton,
the first film directed by Jean-Luc Godard.
Characteristics

The Grande Dixence Dam is a 285 m (935 ft) high, 700 m (2,297 ft) long
concrete gravity dam. The dam is 200 m (656 ft) wide at its base and 15 m (49
ft) wide at its crest. The dam's crest reaches an altitude of 2,365 m (7,759 ft).
The dam structure contains approximately 6,000,000 m3 (211,888,000 cu ft) of
concrete.[1] To secure the dam to the surrounding foundation, a grout curtain
surrounds the dam, reaching a depth of 200 m (656 ft) and extending 100 m
(328 ft) on each side of the valley.[3]
Although the dam is situated on the relatively small Dixence River, water
supplied from other rivers and streams is pumped by the ZMutt, Stafel,
Ferpcle and Arolla pumping stations. The pumping stations transport the
water through 100 km (62 mi) of tunnels into its reservoir, Lac des Dix. Water
from the 87 m (285 ft) high Cleuson Dam, located 7 km (4 mi) to the northwest,
is also transported from its reservoir, the Lac de Cleuson. Three penstocks
transport water from Lac des Dix to the Chandoline, Fionnay, Nendaz and
Bieudron power stations, before being discharged into the Rhne River below.
[4] All the pumping stations, power stations and dams form the CleusonDixence Complex. Although the complex operates with water being pumped
from one reservoir to another, it does not technically qualify as a pumpedstorage scheme.[5]
Most of the water comes from glaciers when they melt during the summer. The
lake is usually at full capacity by late September, and empties during the
winter, eventually reaching its lowest point around April.
Power stations
Chandoline Power Station
The Chandoline Power Station was the power station for the original Dixence
Dam. The Grande Dixence Dam submerged the original dam but the power
station still operates with water received from the reservoir of the Grande
Dixence Dam, Lac des Dix. The power station is the smallest of the four,
producing 120 MW from five Pelton turbines with a gross head of 1,748 m
(5,735 ft).[6]
Fionnay Power Station
The Fionnay Power Station receives water from the Grande Dixence Dam by a 9
km (6 mi) long tunnel with an average gradient of 10%. Once the tunnel
reaches a surge chamber at Louvie in Bagnes, it turns into a penstock which
descends at a gradient of 73% for 800 m (2,625 ft) until it reaches the power
station. The water, now flowing at a maximum rate of 45 m3/s (1,589 cu ft/s)
spins six Pelton turbines, generating a combined maximum capacity of 290
MW.[7]

Nendaz Power Station

After arriving at the Fionnay Power Station from the Grande Dixence Dam,
water then travels through a 16 km (10 mi) pressure tunnel which eventually
leads into the Proua surge chamber, 1,000 m (3,281 ft) above the Nendaz
Power Station. The water, which remains at a maximum rate of 45 m3/s (1,589
cu ft/s) spins six Pelton turbines, generating a combined maximum capacity of
390 MW.

The Nendaz power station is located within mountains between Aproz and
Riddes and is the second-largest hydroelectric power station in Switzerland
after the Bieudron Power Station.[8]
Bieudron Power Station
The water travels down a long penstock from the Grande Dixence Dam before
reaching the Bieudron Power Station 1,883 m (6,178 ft) down. The water spins
three pelton turbines, generating a combined capacity of 1,269 MW.[9] The
power station was constructed after the Nendaz and Fionnay power stations.
The power station was built by both Grande Dixence SA and Energie Ouest
Suisse between 1993 and 1998 at a cost of US$1.2 billion.[9]
The Bieudron Power Station alone holds three world records, for the height of
its head (1,883 m (6,178 ft)), the output of each Pelton turbine (3 423 MW)
and the output per pole of the generators (35.7 MVA). It was taken out of
service in December 2000 after the rupture of a penstock. The power station
became partially operational in December 2009 and fully operational in 2010.