Electricité d'Emosson

Electricité d'Emosson SA is a Swiss hydroelectric power producer whose operations are centred on the Emosson complex, a major pumped-storage and run-of-river scheme straddling the border between Switzerland and France. The company describes itself as a producer of clean, renewable hydroelectricity, and its flagship asset is the Emosson dam, built between 1969 and 1973, which forms the keystone of the wider development. The complex includes two hydroelectric power stations that together supply close to 3% of the electricity generated in Switzerland. Its reservoir, Lake Emosson, holds 225 million cubic metres of water, making it the second-largest artificial reservoir in Switzerland. Average annual production of the scheme is around 850 million kWh. The Emosson development is located across two national territories, reflecting the cross-border nature of the water catchment and infrastructure. The company presents hydropower as an indigenous, storable, flexible, renewable and CO2-free energy source, positioning itself within Switzerland's long tradition of alpine hydroelectricity. Beyond power generation, Electricité d'Emosson manages public safety around its installations, runs prevention campaigns near watercourses and reservoirs, and supports tourism and outdoor activities in the region, including the Emosson dam visitor experience, a zip line and hiking trails in Valais. The corporate history of the site predates the company's own dam. Hydraulic power was first harnessed in the area with the Barberine scheme, built by the Swiss Federal Railways (CFF) from 1920 and in operation from 1927, followed by the Vieux Emosson arch dam completed in 1955. The larger Emosson development was constructed between 1967 and 1975, with the main dam built between 1969 and 1973. Electricité d'Emosson SA now operates this legacy infrastructure and reports to shareholders through an annual general meeting; its 71st ordinary general meeting was held on 3 June 2026, when shareholders approved the accounts. The company publishes an annual management report and maintains an active news and public-information presence. As a company, Electricité d'Emosson is a Swiss entity active in the electricity generation sector, with its operations rooted in the Valais Alps and extending into neighbouring France. It is not a listed public company in the conventional sense as far as available evidence shows, and its ownership is shared among shareholders who exercise governance through the general meeting. Its brand identity is closely tied to the Emosson dam and reservoir, which are well-known landmarks in the region and a focus of energy, environmental and tourism communication.

The use of hydraulic power in the Emosson region began well before the construction of the Emosson dam. In 1920, the Swiss Federal Railways (Chemins de Fer Fédéraux, CFF) started building the Barberine scheme. This dam was planned to meet growing energy demand following the CFF's 1913 decision to electrify the entire Swiss railway network. The CFF obtained a federal water concession in 1917, and operation began in 1927. To bring materials and workers to the Barberine plain, a funicular with an 87% gradient was built; it eventually became a tourist attraction still present in the region. For this construction project, 206,000 cubic metres of concrete were delivered to the alpine site. On average, 400 workers worked 11 hours a day and could pour up to 700 cubic metres of concrete per day. The Barberine dam was 80 metres high, with a base thickness of 58 metres and a crest thickness of 4.5 metres, and a crest length of 250 metres. The reservoir could hold 40 million cubic metres of water. Work was completed in 1926. By 1952, demand for rail transport had grown further and the network expanded accordingly. Barberine was no longer sufficient to meet demand, so it was decided to capture water from the neighbouring Nant de Drance valley and store it in a new reservoir, construction of which began in 1952. This led to the Vieux Emosson arch dam, 170 metres long and 45 metres high, completed in 1955. Its reservoir holds 13.8 million cubic metres of water. The larger Emosson development followed. According to the company, the Emosson dam was built between 1969 and 1973 and forms the keystone of an important hydroelectric complex straddling Switzerland and France. The overall scheme was constructed between 1967 and 1975. It comprises two hydroelectric power stations that together provide close to 3% of the electricity produced in Switzerland. Lake Emosson, with 225 million cubic metres of water, is the second-largest artificial reservoir in Switzerland. The complex lies across two national territories, and its average annual production is about 850 million kWh. Electricité d'Emosson SA now operates this infrastructure. The company reports to its shareholders through an ordinary general meeting; its 71st such meeting was held on 3 June 2026, when the accounts were approved. It publishes annual management reports and maintains public communication on safety, tourism and its installations. The company presents hydropower as an indigenous, storable, flexible, renewable and CO2-free energy source, and it manages visitor and outdoor activities around the dam, including a zip line and hiking trails in Valais.

• 2026

  71st ordinary general meeting held on 3 June; shareholders approve the accounts.

• 1975

  Construction of the Emosson development completed.

• 1973

  Emosson dam completed.

• 1969

  Construction of the Emosson dam begins.

• 1967

  Construction of the Emosson development begins.

• 1955

  Vieux Emosson arch dam completed.

• 1952

  Construction begins on a new reservoir capturing water from the Nant de Drance valley.

• 1927

  Barberine scheme begins operation.

• 1926

  Barberine dam works completed.

• 1920

  Construction of the Barberine scheme begins.

• 1917

  CFF obtains a federal water concession.

• 1913

  Swiss Federal Railways (CFF) decides to electrify the entire Swiss railway network.

Producer of clean, renewable, storable and CO2-free hydroelectricity from a cross-border alpine complex.

• Hydroelectricity

  Clean, renewable, storable and CO2-free electricity generated from the Emosson complex.

• Emosson hydroelectric complex

  A cross-border scheme with two power stations, supplying close to 3% of Swiss electricity.

1. 1Emosson · Electricité d'Emosson SAemosson.ch
2. 2Histoire · Electricité d'Emosson SAemosson.ch
3. 3Electricité d'Emossonwikidata.org