Date Time
New hydropower dam design tested at EPFL
A team of EPFL engineers has completed proof-of-concept tests for the new Massongex-Bex-Rhône hydropower dam. The tests, involving both a physical scale model and computer simulations, enabled the engineers to fine-tune their design.
Engineers at EPFL’s Platform of Hydraulic Constructions (PL-LCH) in Lausanne have just finished testing the design for the new Massongex-Bex-Rhône (MBR) hydropower dam. The tests began in November 2020 and were carried out on a scale model. They were used to calculate the design’s energy efficiency and make sure the dam will not impact the surrounding natural ecosystem, while reaching its hydroelectric potential. PL-LCH was commissioned in the fall of 2020 by the company overseeing the MBR project. The cantons of Vaud and Valais both granted operating permits for the new dam in September 2020, although some opponents have filed appeals.