1474 route de l’Ebaudiaz, 73460 Notre-Dame des Millières, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Notre-Dame des Millières
The Notre Dame des Millières hydroelectric power station exploits two springs named La Combe and Fontaine Claire. It is equipped with a Pelton turbine and develops a power of 1,000 kW.
- Intake altitude level: 1400 NGF
- Restitution altitude level: 380 NGF
- Gross head: 1019m
- Maximum water flow taken: 143 l/s
- Maximum gross power: 1428 kW
- Maximum electrical power: 999 kW
- Average annual production: 4.6 GWh/year
One of the highest head in France
The Notre-Dame-des-Millières hydroelectric power plant is the latest achievement of the Forces Motrices du Gelon group. Its 934 m head places it among the highest in France, and definitely the highest of French independent producers. The low water flow is thus compensated by a very high pressure.
This power plant is in line with the installations recently built in the Alps. It is equipped with the most modern equipment, the result of experience and the latest technological inovations. The Coanda rack tracks that equip each of the two water intakes reflect this desire to adopt the best of innovation, in the service of a more relevant exploitation of the watercourse but also of an ever-greater respect of the environment.
Clean energy
The Notre-Dame-des-Millières hydroelectric power plant produces approximately 4.6 GWh per year.
To achieve the same result, a thermal power plant would consume 395 tons of oil and release 3,578 tons of CO2 for the same energy produced. This production is equivalent to the domestic consumption of 1,000 households.
The springs of La Combe and Fontaine Claire, mountain torrents
The springs of La Combe and Fontaine-Claire are high mountain torrents. They have their sources at the foot of the Dent du Corbeau, which peaks at 2,286m above sea level, in the Lauzière’s mountain range. They both flow down steep slopes before finally joining the Isère river.
Their regime upstream of the water intake is determined by the significant rainfall and snowfall that characterize this crossroads of alpine valleys.
