Where mountain waters gurgle their ancient stories, the Carona power plant turns nature’s flow into timeless energy, weaving the past and future into one harmonious current.
The Carona power plant stands as a force of nature with an
efficient capacity of 48,000 kW, proudly serving as the main hydroelectric facility in the Brembana Valley. It acts as the beating heart of the valley’s energy network, where the pristine waters of eight alpine lakes pour themselves from great heights.
At its core is Lake Sardegnana, it acts as a reservoir fed by two channels. The western channel gathers waters from the Marcio, Pian Becco, and Pan Casere lakes, while the eastern channel draws from the Diavolo, Fregabolgia, and Val di Frati lakes. The lakes Gemelli and Colombo, too, pour their waters into Sardegnana, after powering the Gemelli plant downstream.
The origins of this engineering marvel date back to 1922–1932, a time when hydroelectric innovation surged through Italy’s mountains. The only exception is the Fregabolgia dam, which joined the system a couple of decades later. In 1991, the plant was given a second life, when it was completely modernized with updated hydraulic and electrical systems. Though to respect the legacy, the exterior was left completely unchanged.
From its humble beginnings to its present-day efficiency, the Carona power plant is a testament to human ingenuity, seamlessly blending technology with the wild beauty of the Brembana Valley.
Italian