Sunday 1st August Iren celebrates the historic inauguration. The construction of the reservoir began in 1917, but the vernissage was on August 2, 1931
/ ceresole reale
Ceresole Reale, 90 years of energy, is the evocative title chosen by Iren for the day of celebrations dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the inauguration of the Ceresole Reale dam, located in the Orco Valley at an altitude of 1,570 meters. The events, organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Ceresole Reale, are on the agenda this Sunday 1 August in the areas adjacent to the crowning of the dam and in any case visible to the public along the entire perimeter of the artificial lake.
The one between Iren and the Orco Valley is a positive union that has continued for decades in the name of a close and constant collaboration made up of respect for nature, protection of the landscape and enhancement of environmental resources, which in these places benefit from the historical presence of the Gran Paradiso National Park.
The Ceresole dam is part of this important ecosystem, which encompasses industrial production, respect for the environment and enhancement of the natural and human resources of the territory.
the company era
The history of the Ceresole dam actually begins well before the 90 years since its construction: in fact, already in 1917 the then Municipal Electricity Company (Aem, but in the upper Orco Valley, for everyone, simply “the company ”), Then Iride, now Iren, at the request of the mayor of Turin, Teofilo Rossi, presents a project to obtain all the rights on the water resources of the Orco Valley to exploit them for the production of electricity. The following year an application is submitted to the Ministry in which it is planned to build a large basin at Ceresole Reale, with its hydroelectric power plant, in the Rosone di Locana hamlet, as well as a seasonal reservoir at Lake Serrù, at the Colle del Nivolet, and two other branches downstream.
The fulcrum of the project, drawn up by engineer Bornati, is in any case the large Ceresole Reale dam with a capacity of 36 million cubic meters of water which is conveyed in a channel of over 15 kilometers to the Perebella loading chamber. , from which the penstock starts up to the Rosone plant after an overall difference in height of more than 800 meters. The ministerial decree approving the project arrives in 1925 and, therefore, in July of that year the works for the construction of the dam can begin.
dialogue with the national park
In those same months, the Gran Paradiso National Park (the first National Park) is also being born, an institution that will immediately start a constant dialogue with Aem that has been kept alive and collaborative over the years. The construction works of the dam are very complex and for this reason they are divided into different lots. Right from the start, the majestic work gives work to the people of the valley who are proud to collaborate in the realization of a work that will change the history of the territory. The dam was completed on 2 August 1930 and was chosen on 2 August 1931 for its inauguration which is held in the presence of Umberto II of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont, and all the authorities of the territory, with a mixture of emotion and triumphalism for the historical significance of that work for the Valley and the region.
the CEO by iren energia, bergesio
“The Ceresole Reale dam, located at 1,600 meters above sea level, inserted in the magnificent scenery of the Gran Paradiso Park, is not only a very important element of Iren’s hydroelectric production, but has also entered the awareness of many Turin and Piedmontese, such as the basin that allows to supply a lot of renewable energy – says Giuseppe Bergesio, CEO of Iren Energia – Over the years the Ceresole Reale lake has become, more and more, also a driving force for tourism and economic development of the valley, while protecting the territory from potentially critical climatic phenomena “. A Sunday, this, an event, full of meanings. Being there will be a privilege.