First very-low-head turbine in Switzerland

At the end of September 2024, Forces Motrices de Martigny-Bourg (FMMB) officially commissioned the first Swiss low-pressure VLH-type (Very Low Head) turbine. The new turbine was installed in the underwater channel of the river at the Martigny-Bourg power plant to produce around 850,000kWh of electricity per year – covering the average annual consumption of almost 200 households. Now, the hydropower available at the site has been optimised without placing any additional burden on the environment. “Installation of the new low-pressure turbine enables us to make the best possible use of the available water resources – in an environmentally-friendly manner. The project demonstrates our commitment to sustainable innovation and the energy transition,” states Georges-Alain Zuber, head of the Martigny-Bourg power plant. The VLH turbine can process up to 10.2m³/s and is designed for a head of 2.0 to 2.5 metres.