Tignes Dam : Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tignes Dam

Dam in Tignes

45°29′40.82″N 6°55′54.47″E / 45.4946722°N 6.9317972°E / 45.4946722; 6.9317972PurposePowerStatusOperationalConstruction began1948Opening date1952Owner(s)Électricité de FranceDam and spillwaysType of damArchImpoundsIsèreHeight180 m (590 ft)Length296 m (971 ft)Elevation at crest1,790 m (5,870 ft)Width (crest)10 m (33 ft)Width (base)43.57 m (142.9 ft)Dam volume632,000 m³ (827,000 cu yd)ReservoirCreatesLac du ChevrilTotal capacity230,000,000 m³ (186,464 acre⋅ft)Catchment area171 km² (66 sq mi)Surface area2.74 km² (1 sq mi)Power StationOperator(s)Électricité de FranceHydraulic headBrevieres: 233 m (764 ft)
Malgovert: 750 m (2,461 ft)TurbinesBrevieres: 3 x 32 MW Francis-type
Malgovert: 4 x 83 MW Pelton-typeInstalled capacityBrevieres: 96 MW
Malgovert: 332 MW^[1]

The Tignes Dam, also known as the Chevril Dam, is an arch dam on the Isère in the municipality of Tignes in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. In planning since the 1920s and under the protest of locals, the dam was constructed between 1948 and 1952 with the purpose of hydroelectric power. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest dam in Europe. Water from the dam's reservoir, Lac du Chevril, feeds two power stations, the 96 MW Brevieres Power Station and the 332 MW Malgovert Power Station, for a total installed capacity of 428 MW. The yearly average combined output of the two power stations is 94 MW.^[2] Brevieres is located about 1 km (0.62 mi) downstream of the dam and Malgovert is also located downstream, 17 km (11 mi) to the northwest at 45°37′04.28″N 6°47′25.31″E / 45.6178556°N 6.7903639°E / 45.6178556; 6.7903639 (Malgovert Power Station). The dam was designed by Coyne & Bellier and is currently owned and operated by Électricité de France.^[3] Lac du Chevril flooded the town of Tignes which was relocated nearby.

In 1989, in preparation for the 1992 Winter Olympics, Jean-Marie Pierret painted a fresco of the Olympian figure Hercules on the dam's face. The feat, by Pierret and eight other painters, took 60 days.^[4]

The dam plays an important part in the French supernatural drama television series The Returned.

References

^ "Rhône-Alpes -Tignes-Malgovert" (in French). Hydrelect. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
^ "EDF INVESTS IN THE MAINTENANCE AND MODERNISATION OF THE TIGNES-ALGOVERT HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX" (PDF).
^ "Tignes Dam". Structurae. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
^ Weber, Bruce (5 November 1989). "WORKS IN PROGRESS; That Dammed Hercules By Bruce Weber". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 2013.