Case Study: Nant De Drance SA achieves one of Europe’s most powerful pumped-storage hydroelectric plants with SCIA Engineer

Nant De Drance SA builds a 900 MW hydroelectric plant with SCIA

Nant De Drance SA, the owner of a major pumped storage hydroelectric facility in Switzerland, faced significant engineering challenges in designing the plant's massive underground transformer cavern. They needed to analyze the cavern's stability within the surrounding rock, model complex electromechanical forces from the machinery, and adhere to strict deformation criteria. The engineering firm BG Consulting Engineers SA utilized SCIA Engineer software to address these challenges.

The solution from SCIA involved creating multiple advanced calculation models within SCIA Engineer, including a 3D model for general behavior, nonlinear calculations for wall design, and dynamic analyses to understand operational risks. This comprehensive approach allowed the team to master the project's complex technical aspects. The successful design contributed to the creation of one of Europe's most powerful hydroelectric plants, and the project was recognized as the winner in the Industrial Buildings and Plants category of the SCIA User Contest 2015.

Nant De Drance SA