HYDROELECTRIC
A historic presence: our roots, our future

The energy of water

We have been producing electricity through the power of water for more than 120 years when, at the end of the 19th century, we built the first hydroelectric plants in the country which are still in operation today. The renewable energy of water represents the history but also a pillar for the future of our society: we invest to consolidate and increase our position in the scope of large derivation plants and we are committed to expand our radius of action by building or acquiring small plants.

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107

Our hydroelectric plants in Italy

1100 MW

The installed capacity of our hydroelectric park

6

The Italian regions where our hydroelectric plants are located

11524 GJ

Hydroelectric energy generated in 2020

 

How a hydropower plant works

Water is the most ancient energy source ever used by mankind. In order to extract potential energy from water features, several power plant solutions can be put in place depending on the kind of water source available: hydropower plants on basins in the case of dikes, or running water hydroelectric facilities for rivers.

Our historic plants

All three are located on the Adda river, are over a hundred years old and represent our historical commitment for building a sustainable energy future: they are the power plants Angelo Bertini and Carlo Esterle, in the province of Monza and Brianza, and Guido Semenza, in the province of Bergamo. Nowadays Google Street View makes it possible to visit and observe them closely, with a 360° look.

Bertini

Our plant in Paderno D'Adda (Lecco area)

Esterle

Our plant in Cornate D'Adda (Monza-Brianza area)

Semenza

Our plant in Calusco D'Adda (Bergamo area)

Bertini

Our plant in Paderno D'Adda (Lecco area)

Esterle

Our plant in Cornate D'Adda (Monza-Brianza area)

Semenza

Our plant in Calusco D'Adda (Bergamo area)

    The future of our sector with mini-hydro systems

    We are active in construing and acquiring small hydroelectric plants (under 3 MW of power). These plants are the future of the sector in Italy: the large basins energy are in fact already fully exploited through the existing plants. But that's not all: the mini-systems are perfectly integrated into the landscape surrounding them.

    PALESTRO

    The citizen power plant

    In order to build the mini-hydro power plant of Palestro, we chose to involve the local community: for the first time, citizens could contribute to a sustainable energy project.

    PIZZIGHETTONE

    Back on the Adda river, where our story began

    Inaugurated in 2017, the Pizzighettone mini hydro plant represents an excellence in its sector: indeed the plant is fully integrated into the South Adda Park territory, thanks also to its underground structure and to a special passage that allows the ascent of the fishes inhabiting Adda river.

    Our environmental declarations

    By monitoring and certificating our hydroelectric plants, we want to make a significant contribution to protect environment and biodiversity, developing our business in a sustainable way. We are also committed to ensure our people safety in the workplace and we believe that a constant dialogue with local communities hosting us and with all the production chain stakeholders establishes an opportunity to improve and grow the entire organization.

    Read our documents

    Fight against climate change: our goals for a sustainable energy future

    By 2030, we want to increase the production of electricity from renewable sources reaching 40% and to reduce the specific CO2 emissions of our electricity generation park to 0.26 kg / kWh.

    Find out more