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The real daily challenge facing Grande Dixence S.A. is operating its complex so as to obtain maximum value. The best possible relationship has to be found between the limitations of the installations, customer requirements and market prices.
Grande Dixence thus has a dual task which is essential to the profitability of the complex, namely:
- optimisation of the level of water stored in the Lac des Dix so that there is maximum availability before periods of heavy demand;
- maintenance of a satisfactory balance sheet, by constantly calculating the cost of the energy consumed by pumping during summer and the income from the energy generated in winter.
Extreme precision
A precise computerised management system is essential to deal with the huge number of parameters which can change from one minute to the next.
All the data collected from the Grande Dixence network is sent to the water management centre at Sion. This centre is ready to operate at any moment on each of the catchment and pumping units. It controls the filling of the balancing reservoirs and the dam, manages the outlet discharges and controls pump starting and pump load.
It has a permanent link to the meteorological services and operational partners so that all the information required to take the necessary decisions is available at all times. A great deal is at stake in this high-precision management: the loss of a single cubic metre of water represents more than 4 kWh of energy.
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