Les Farettes: when Italian innovation made hydro history
The Les Farettes hydropower plant, located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, is a symbol of innovation and foresight in the hydropower industry. This pioneering project, in which Sasso participated in 2002, has left an indelible mark on the history of hydropower, demonstrating how Italian innovation can make a difference.
The Les Farettes project represents Sasso’s ability to collaborate with diverse realities internationally
A visionary project and Sasso’s intuition
The SEARCH LHT project, funded by the European Commission and the Swiss Confederation, aimed to develop a new axial hydroelectric turbo-generator concept for small hydropower. Sasso, with his experience in the automotive industry, brought a breath of fresh air by introducing the use of distributed intelligent I/O and the CANopen communication protocol. The real revolution was the adoption of Windows CE for real-time machine control, a system that combined hardware and firmware from robotics and automotive.
A lasting legacy and an example of Italian excellence
The Les Farettes plant, which has been in operation since 2002, is still a role model today. The technology developed by Sasso has paved the way for new solutions to control hydroelectric power plants, making them more efficient and sustainable. The story of Sasso and the Les Farettes project is an example of how Italian innovation, the ability to adapt technologies from other sectors, and international collaboration can lead to extraordinary results.
The innovation introduced by Sasso in 2002 laid the foundation for the development of cutting-edge hydropower solutions, contributing to a more sustainable energy future. Projects like Les Farettes demonstrate the potential of hydropower as a renewable energy source capable of supporting the energy transition through efficient and sustainable solutions.
