Built in 1924, straddling the border between France and Switzerland, the Chancy-Pougny dam is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. This hydroelectric power station is the first built on the Rhône River. It currently provides 9% of the electricity production in the canton of Geneva.
It is a symbolic candle for a hydraulic giant in the region. The Chancy-Pougny dam is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Created after the First World War, it was the first dam built on the Rhône.
This dam represents a symbolic bridge for the cross-border links maintained with Switzerland. Even today, this dam is managed collectively by France and Switzerland.
The Society of Motive Forces of Chancy-Pougny (SFMCP) is approximately 73% owned by the Geneva Industrial Services (SIG) and around 27% by the CNR (Compagnie nationale du Rhône).
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Reporting. The first Rhône dam celebrates its 100th anniversary.
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©Ingrid Pernet Duparc and Serge Woretth / France Télévisions
At the time, French investors were the majority. The electricity produced is then largely intended to power the metallurgical factories located in Le Creusot, in Saône et Loire.
A turning point took place in the 1950s. As the Schneider group no longer needed as much electricity, the surplus produced benefited the Canton of Geneva which gradually recovered part of the hydroelectric production. Today, this dam provides 9% of the electricity consumed in the canton of Geneva.
On the left, from the road bridge, the commune of Pougny (Ain) and on the right that of Chancy (Switzerland). Upstream, we can see the Chancy-Pougny hydroelectric dam.
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© MOIRENC CAMILLE / HEMIS.FR / HEMIS.FR
When it was created, the dam was equipped with five turbines to operate it. Over the years, these turbines have all been replaced… except one. “J‘I imagine it must have run around 500,000 hours” estimates Jérome Barras, director of the SFMCP about this century-old piece.
The engineers of that time were at least as good as those of today. They did not have the same calculation and simulation capabilities, yet they built something ingenious and very robust which still lasts 100 years later.
Jerome BarrasDirector of the Chancy Pougny driving forces company (SFMCP)
Even if the other turbines were replaced by new ones, the engineers of the time can be proud of their work: “The turbines that we have installed are more efficient, more automated but they will certainly not last as long as those of the time“, recognizes Jérôme Barras.
