Grand'Maison Dam

Grand'Maison ppp
Grand'Maison ppp
Location of Grand'Maison ppp in France
Official nameBarrage de Grand'Maison
CountryFrance
LocationVaujany, Isère
Coordinates45°12′21″N 06°07′01″E / 45.20583°N 6.11694°E / 45.20583; 6.11694
StatusOperational
Construction began1978
Opening date1985
OwnerÉlectricité de France (EDF)
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsEau d'Olle
Height (foundation)160 m (525 ft)
Height (thalweg)140 m (459 ft)
Length550 m (1,804 ft)
Dam volume12,000,000 m3 (15,695,407 cu yd)
Reservoir
CreatesLac de Grand Maison
Total capacity140,000,000 m3 (113,500 acre⋅ft)
Power Station
Commission date1987
Hydraulic head955 m (3,133 ft) (max, lower plant)
Turbines4 x 150 MW Pelton-type
8 x 150 MW Francis pump turbine
Installed capacity1,800 MW
Annual generation1,420 GWh

The Grand'Maison Dam is an embankment dam on L'Eau d'Olle, a tributary of the Romanche River. It is located in Vaujany of Isère within the French Alps. The primary purpose of the dam is to serve as the upper reservoir for a pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme where Lac du Verney located lower in the valley is the lower reservoir. The dam was constructed between 1978 and 1985 with its power station being commissioned in 1987. With an installed capacity of 1,800 MW, it is the largest hydroelectric power station in France.