FMG: clean energy as close as possible to consumers
Hydroelectricity, the ultimate local energy, allows territories to cover their energy needs, particularly in areas furthest from urban centers. They reduce the need for transport and distribution facilities from hyper-concentrated points, which generate visual pollution but also a residual loss of the resource reaching, on average, 2 and 3% of the electricity transported, or the equivalent of covering the uses of several hundred thousand homes.
With all these advantages, FMG hydroelectric power plants are a link in the fight against CO2 emissions and the resulting climate change.
Limited or even zero landscape impact
The studies upstream of FMG developments are adapted to local specificities – height of the fall, flow rate – while respecting their environmental qualities. The objective is to integrate the installations perfectly into the landscape and make them as invisible as possible to the public eye. Some micro-power plants are nevertheless part of the architectural heritage and have a secondary use as part of touring, leisure, discovery.
This tradition allows the FMG group to justify recognized know-how and capacity for innovation, with the design and construction of high environmental quality works, respectful of nature, and are therefore part of a French sector of excellence.
Respect for biodiversity
As part of the renovation work on power plants or their construction, FMG studies the possible impacts on local flora and fauna. For example, the necessary felling of trees is carried out outside the bird nesting period. Hollow trees sheltering bats are also preserved.
Concerning watercourses themselves, FMG guarantees an ecoflow downstream of the intake to promote the life of the species that naturally develop there. The passage of sediments making up the river bed, and that of leaves or plant debris that are part of the life of the watercourse is also permitted by the ecoflow.
Technology at the service of the environment
From a technological point of view, FMG offers equipment to preserve the aquatic life of fauna and flora as well as that of the banks and surroundings, with:
- discharge valves to ensure the proper circulation of sediments. All FMG sites are equipped with them. They ensure the cleaning of water intakes and the transfer of sediments from upstream to downstream regularly.
- fish ladder to encourage fish migration.
- Coanda rack track at the water intake, whose design is fish-frinendly and prevents fishes from passing through the turbines.
- old sites are the subject of constructive consultation with fishermen.
Old sites are the subject of constructive consultation with fishermen. FMG ensures that enough water is kept during periods of drought, particularly on short-circuited sections, to allow spawning areas to be maintained.
- the compatibility of canyoning with electricity production, particularly on the Artemare site, where a protocol defines the uses for the energy benefit as well as for that of the practitioners of this leisure activity.
Testimony
Anne PENALBA, Vice-President of France Hydro-Electricité
Energy Independence
France’s overall energy dependence is currently estimated at 47.6% (source We Demain) on countries whose stability is far from guaranteed. By 2050, our electricity needs are expected to increase by 30%.
