Roncovalgrande
One of the most important hydroelectric power stations in Italy, utilizing water from Lake Delio.
This hydroelectric power station is in the municipality of Maccagno, at the extremity of the Veddasca valley, not far from the border with Canton Ticino. It is particularly interesting for its environmental and educational value.
This civil engineering project was built in the 1970s by constructing a gigantic cavern inside the mountain. The plant is in fact entirely underground, to avoid any form of damage to the natural habitat. The area is characteristic for its vegetation, which varies from rich and verdant plant life interspersed with episodes of vernacular culture typical of the Alpine foothills rural community, to the more rugged countryside that is a feature of the sub-mountainous sector of the Alpine environment.
The water powering the plant comes from Lake Delio, below Mount Borgna, exploiting a vertical distance of about 700 metres in order to produce electrical energy.
The Roncovalgrande power station is one of the thirty Italian power stations run by Enel included in the "Centrale aperta" (Open station) project, whose objective is to familiarize the general public with concepts regarding electricity production, while also enhancing the tourist and environmental resources offered by the respective areas, in cooperation with the corresponding municipalities.
This hydroelectric power station is in the municipality of Maccagno, at the extremity of the Veddasca valley, not far from the border with Canton Ticino. It is particularly interesting for its environmental and educational value.
This civil engineering project was built in the 1970s by constructing a gigantic cavern inside the mountain. The plant is in fact entirely underground, to avoid any form of damage to the natural habitat. The area is characteristic for its vegetation, which varies from rich and verdant plant life interspersed with episodes of vernacular culture typical of the Alpine foothills rural community, to the more rugged countryside that is a feature of the sub-mountainous sector of the Alpine environment.
The water powering the plant comes from Lake Delio, below Mount Borgna, exploiting a vertical distance of about 700 metres in order to produce electrical energy.
The Roncovalgrande power station is one of the thirty Italian power stations run by Enel included in the "Centrale aperta" (Open station) project, whose objective is to familiarize the general public with concepts regarding electricity production, while also enhancing the tourist and environmental resources offered by the respective areas, in cooperation with the corresponding municipalities.
