Roselend Dam

45°41′03″N 6°37′18″E / 45.68417°N 6.62167°E / 45.68417; 6.62167StatusOperationalConstruction began1955Opening date1962Dam and spillwaysType of damArch-buttress damHeight150 m (492 ft)Length804 m (2,638 ft)Width (crest)3 m (10 ft)Width (base)22 m (72 ft)Dam volume945,000 m³ (1,236,013 cu yd)ReservoirCreatesLac de RoselendTotal capacity187,000,000 m³ (151,603 acre⋅ft)Catchment area44 km² (17 sq mi)Surface area3.2 km² (1 sq mi)Normal elevation1,557 m (5,108 ft)^[1]La Bâthie Power StationCoordinates45°38′41″N 6°26′40″E / 45.64472°N 6.44444°E / 45.64472; 6.44444Commission date1962TypeConventional, diversionHydraulic head1,250 m (4,101 ft)^[2]Turbines6 x 91 MW Pelton-typeInstalled capacity546 MW

The Roselend Dam is an arch-buttress dam located 5 km (3 mi) east of Beaufort in the Savoie department of the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is located just west and below the Cormet de Roselend mountain pass. The dam was designed by Coyne et Bellier and construction began in 1955. The reservoir began to fill in 1960, the power station was operational in 1961 and the dam complete in 1962. It was constructed for the primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation and supports the 546 MW La Bâthie Power Station.^[3]

Design and operation

The dam has a maximum height of 150 m (492 ft) and a length of 804 m (2,638 ft). It is 3 m (10 ft) wide at its crest and 22 m (72 ft) wide at its base. The dam has a structural volume of 945,000 m³ (1,236,013 cu yd). Its reservoir, Lac de Roselend, can store 187,000,000 m³ (151,603 acre⋅ft) of water and has a surface area of 3.2 km² (1 sq mi). Directly over the river bed is the dam's concrete arch with a 215 m (705 ft) radius. Flanking it on either side are concrete buttresses supporting the dam wall.^[4][5] Water from the dam is transferred west via a 13 km (8 mi) long penstock to the underground power station in La Bâthie. At the power station, the water feeds six 91 MW Pelton turbine-generators. The difference in elevation between the power station and reservoir affords a hydraulic head (drop) of 1,250 m (4,101 ft).^[6] Water from the St. Guerin Dam, 5 km (3 mi) to the southwest at 45°39′00″N 6°34′46″E / 45.65000°N 6.57944°E / 45.65000; 6.57944 (St. Guerin Dam) and Gittaz Dam, 4.5 km (3 mi) to the northeast at 45°42′40″N 6°38′46″E / 45.71111°N 6.64611°E / 45.71111; 6.64611 (Gittaz Dam), provide additional water to Lac de Roselend as well.^[3][7]

See also

• Renewable energy in France

References