Les Rousses, 73160 Corbel, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Corbel
The Corbel hydroelectric power plant operate the Guiers-Vif river, in the heart of the Chartreuse mountain range. It houses 2 Francis turbines and develops a power of 1,020 kW. Since 1992, the power plant has been owned by the Compagnie Hydroélectrique de Chartreuse, a subsidiary of Forces Motrices du Gelon.
- Intake level: 569 NGF
- Restitution level: 494.6 NGF
- Gross drop: 74.4m
- Maximum flow rate taken: 1.8 m3/s
- Maximum gross power: 1471 kW
- Maximum electrical power: 1020 kW
- Average annual production: 5.2 GWh/year
From the Carthusians monks to the present day
The power of water has been used for a long time in the Chartreuse mountains. Indeed, around the year 1000, the Carthusians monks knew how to take advantage of it for their mills and forges. The latter were very modern for the time! They produced quality tools in cast iron.
Today, the power of the Chartreuse watercourses is used to produce electrical energy.
The Guiers-Vif River, a snow and rain torrent
The Guiers-Vif has its source in Saint-Pierre-d’Entremont, in the pre-Alpine range of Chartreuse. It comes from a karst resurgence that can be seen flowing in the magnificent Saint-Même’s corrie. It then dives into the deep Frou’s gorges to join the Guiers-Mortet and thus form the Guiers, which becomes a low-valley river.
The Guiers-Vif has an abundant water flow due to the very high level of rainfall in the Chartreuse range.
Clean energy
The Corbel hydroelectric power plant produces 5.2 GWh per year.
For this, a thermal power plant would consume 1,156 tons of oil and release 3,467 tons of CO2.
A coal-fired power plant would release 4,333 tons of CO2 for the same energy produced. This is equivalent to the domestic consumption of approximately 1,576 individuals.
