Customer Reference

Compagnie Nationale du Rhône, Chautagne Hydropower Plant, Anglefort, France

Context: Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) is the second largest producer of electricity in France. Designer and operator of 19 hydropower plants on the Rhône river, CNR entire hydropower production is certified 100% renewable. The Chautagne hydropower plant, which has been commissioned in 1981, has an installed capacity of 90 MW. In CNR hydropower plants, electricity production is controlled by PLCs. In Chautagne, CNR wanted to migrate from an old April SMC 50 (now Schneider Electric) to a new Schneider Electric PL7.

Challenge: In addition to the migration, CNR asked Itris Automation Square to replace some of the specific functions that were based on dedicated cards so that they would be integrated in the new PLC. Also, to commission the new PLC, production had to be stopped. To do so, CNR asked Itris Automation Square to follow a very precise - and short - timing.

Success: The Chautagne migration was the first time CNR worked with Itris Automation Square. Confident and carefull at the same time, CNR followed closely the work done by Itris Automation Square. At the end of the day, the migration was a great success and CNR acknowledged the professionalism, reactivity and deep technical knowledge of Itris Automation Square. The best proof of that acknowledgment is that Itris Automation Square is now working frequently on CNR hydropower plants.