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Hydraulic: energy that is clean, competitive and 100% renewable
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Hydraulic energy produces electricity by using the moving power of waterways. It accounts for nearly 90% of the world’s electricity produced from renewable sources, and constitutes 17% of the installed capacity of
A renewable, storable energy
Hydroelectric power plants produce electricity using water channelled through dams. The water activates turbines according to a flow rate that is regulated by a valve. Each turbine drives an alternator that converts the mechanical energy of the water to electricity.
Hydraulic energy has one major advantage: it can be stored and then brought on stream in just a few minutes. It is also a competitive form of energy, due to the long useful life and low cost of hydroelectric plants.
There are two different types of hydroelectric plants:
- run-of-the-river power plants which use the continuous flow of the river and provide a constant supply of basic energy;
- pumped storage power plants which store the water in a reservoir, creating energy that is guaranteed to be available during peak consumption periods.
Additional specialist subsidiaries
GDF SUEZ is a major player in hydroelectric power through the expertise of its subsidiaries.
- Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), the second largest producer of electricity in France, develops and operates the river system and has three missions: electricity production, navigation and irrigation.
- Tractebel Engineering, one of the leading European engineering firms and world leader in the area of dams, has been involved in the development of 26,000 MW hydroelectric plants.
- Coyne et Bellier, a Tractebel Engineering subsidiary, is an engineering firm working in the area of major water, energy, transport and building infrastructures. The firm owns the largest number of references in major international hydraulic and hydro-electric dams.
- Société Hydro Electrique du Midi (SHEM) is a leading player in the Great South West region of France, with a hundred years of experience in hydroelectric power. Its assets generate average annual output of 1,828 GWh, equal to the annual consumption of 1.2 million residents.
Over 700 dam engineering references worldwide
In France
Hydraulic energy is the second largest source of electricity production in France.
| Invitation to tender for hydroelectric concessions | |
| France has nearly 400 hydroelectric concessions which account for over 95% of the installed power. Some of these concessions have come to an end and therefore need to be renewed and are being put out for competitive tender.
The key figures for this renewal by 2015:
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In Brazil
GDF SUEZ is Brazil’s leading private producer of electricity, operating
- The Estreito dam on the Tocantins River is the very latest of the Group’s major hydroelectric power plants. With installed capacity of
1,087 MW , it produces enough energy to supply8 million residents.
- The run-of-the-river Jirau dam, part of the Madeira river complex, has capacity of
3,450 MW . It will make it possible to meet the country’s growing demand for energy while ensuring supply security. This dam, the architecture of which will limit its environmental impact, is to come on stream inearly 2013 .
In Chile
In September 2009, GDF SUEZ began construction of the first run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant in Chile, on the lower section of the Laja River. A system of turbines installed at the foot of the dam avoids the need to divert the river and minimizes the environmental impact of the dam: a one-of-a-kind project in Chile, which will save the equivalent of nearly 29,000 tons of oil.
The power plant, with a capacity of 34.4 MW, is scheduled to become commercially operational in September 2012.
In the United States
Through its subsidiary FirstLight Power Resources, the Group operates hydroelectric power plants on the Shetucket and Housatonic rivers in Connecticut and Massachusetts. These plants, which operate during periods of heavy electricity demand, play a major role in efforts to protect marine life by installing fish ladders on navigable waterways.
GDF SUEZ also operates a 1,080 megawatt pump turbine plant in Northfield, Massachusetts and a 29 megawatt pumped storage plant in New Milford, Connecticut.
In Belgium
Electrabel, a subsidiary of the Group in Belgium, operates the Coo-Trois-Ponts pumped storage hydroelectricity plant. This plant, with installed power of 1,164 MW, is located in the Ardennes near the Coo waterfall.
In the United Kingdom
First Hydro Company, a subsidiary of IPR-GDF SUEZ, is one of the most dynamic electricity producers in the United Kingdom with installed capacity of 2,088 MW. It manages and operates the pumped storage plants in Dinorwig and Festiniog, Snowdonia (Wales).
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