Grande Dixence SA

The Grande Dixence power plant complex collects the meltwater from 35 glaciers in the canton of Valais. The jewel in the facility's crown is the Grande Dixence dam, the highest gravity dam in the world. The water from the reservoir plummets down to the Fionnay and Nendaz power stations. The volume of electricity produced by Grande Dixence SA corresponds to one fifth of the storage energy generated in Switzerland. The plant operator is HYDRO Exploitation SA.

Fionnay power station – alt. 1490 m

• 6 x 2 Pelton turbines – total capacity: 290 MW
• Gross head: 874 m

Nendaz power station – alt. 478 m

• 6 x 2 Pelton turbines – total capacity: 390 MW
• Gross head: 1,008 m

The Grande Dixence power plant complex is supplemented by facilities that are a part of the Cleuson-Dixence complex.

Grande Dixence dam – alt. 2365 m

• Constructed: 1951 - 1961
• Commissioning: 1961
• Type: Gravity dam
• Height: 285 m
• Crest: 700 m
• Reservoir capacity: 400 million m³
• Surface area: 4.04 km²
• Catchment area: 46.3 km²

^{Ferpècle dam – alt. 1896 m}

• Constructed: 1962
• Commissioning: 1964
• Type: Arch dam
• Height: 25.5 m
• Crest: 91 m
• Reservoir capacity: 100 000 m³
• Surface area: 1.1 ha

Z’Mutt dam – alt. 1972 m

• Built: 1961
• Commissioning: 1964
• Type: Arch dam
• Height: 74 m
• Crest: 144 m
• Reservoir capacity: 800,000 m³
• Surface area: 4 ha

Pumping stations

Arolla – alt. 2009 m

• Volume of compensating basin of la Maya 17,300 m³
• Capacity 48.6 MW, max. discharge rate 12.6 m³/s

Ferpècle – alt. 1896 m

• Volume of dam 100,000 m³
• Capacity 21.3 MW, max. discharge rate 8.4 m³/s

Stafel – alt. 2180 m

• Volume of compensating basin 80,000 m³
• Capacity 26.4 MW, max. discharge rate 9.9 m³/s

Z'Mutt – alt. 1972 m

• Volume of dam 800,000 m³
• Capacity 88 MW, max. discharge rate 17.4 m³/s