Place Moulino Dam, Italy

Dams, such as the Place Moulin dam in Valle d’Aosta, play a crucial role in the production of hydropower, a renewable and clean source of energy. Hydropower harnesses the power of water to generate electricity, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Place Moulin dam, for example, on the Buthier stream, was built between 1959 and 1964 and required innovative solutions due to the altitude of the lake, which is 1,970 metres above sea level. The dam is a 663-metre long, 154 metres high concrete arch-gravity dam, and as the plant and the dam are completely covered by snow in winter, it requires special clearing operations in spring.

The dam is crucial for the production of hydroelectric energy in the region, contributing around 3,000 GWh per year to the energy sustainability of the Aosta Valley. The construction is a perfect balance of height, width and capacity, making it the first in the Alpine region in terms of reservoir capacity and therefore a work of international importance.