Challenges experienced at the Nant de Drance pumped-storage plant

The 600 MW Nant de Drance pumped storage plant is scheduled to produce peak energy from 2016. The project’s implementation cost is estimated to total more than 1.3 x 109 Swiss Francs. Work began in September 2008, and as the construction phase has progressed, stakeholders, planners and contractors have faced numerous challenges. To complement the overview article starting on p35, this paper focuses on the of the main challenges associated with the scheme.