ENDESA S A : 50 years have now passed since the commissioning of the Tavascan hydro plant

• Originally commissioned on 30 November 1971, the plant is a unique complex located 500 metres deep inside the mountain and is home to one of the biggest waterfalls in Europe.
• The different activities planned by Endesa and Lladorre town hall to commemorate the anniversary include a commemorative turbine having been installed in the town of Tavascan and the informative and educational space at the plant, which is open to visits, has been renovated.
• The plant, which is 50 years old and has produced more than 7 million MWh, continues to harness the power of water to produce emission-free energy while contributing to the economic and social development of the region.

On 30 November, 50 years ago, the Tavascan hydro plant produced its first megawatt of power. Half a century and more than 7,323,000 MWh later, the plant continues to harness the power of water to produce emission-free energy using state-of-the-art and largely digitised systems. The hydroelectric complex, which is one of a kind, as it is located 500 metres deep inside the mountain and is home to one of the biggest waterfalls in Europe, has carved out the economic and social path of the region, and continues to represent its backbone to this day.

To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Endesa and Lladorre town hall presented a commemorative logo last July, created especially for the occasion, as well as a calendar of events scheduled to take place in the coming months, such as an institutional ceremony at the plant and a webinar summarising its history. To date the actions undertaken include the inauguration of a new exhibition space performed by the Endesa Foundation, which can be seen as part of the guided tour of the plant, as well as the installation of a turbine at the roundabout at the entrance to the town of Tavascan. This Pelton-type turbine, which was used at the Tavascan plant between 1971 and 2010, installed a few weeks ago now, serves as a reminder to visitors and local residents of the importance and commitment of this infrastructure in the past, but also in the present and future of the region.

A major project that changed life in the town

Work began to study and plan the project in 1958, when the first surveyors travelled to the area to design the new access road and adapt the bridge over the River Noguera Pallaresa, in Llavorsí, to allow for the passage of heavy goods vehicles. In addition to opening new roads and mountain trails and building camps, dams has to be constructed on the lakes to increase their storage capacity, the rock had to be drilled to set up the underground power plants and valves installed under the lakes. Up to 75 kilometres of tunnels, pipelines, channels and service galleries were constructed, in addition to high and low voltage lines.