RONCOVALGRANDE is a 1,000 MW hydro power station in Lombardy, Italy. It is operated by Enel SpA [100%]. Based on reported annual generation of 845 GWh, it can supply roughly 241k homes. It ranks #23 of 489 Italy power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1971, it is around 55 years old — an older, legacy facility. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 15.8% of Italy's electricity; the national grid averages 285 gCO₂/kWh (48.8% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1002936.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000602223; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,000 MW, RONCOVALGRANDE is well above the median hydro plant in Italy (132 MW). Technically it is described as pumped storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 10%, from 845 GWh of reported generation; the median for 40 hydro plants in Italy that report generation is 14%
- Generation trend
- 509 GWh in 2015 and 845 GWh in 2017 (+66%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 865 GWh; 2015: 509 GWh
- Share of Italy hydro capacity
- 7.4% of 13,593 MW across 58 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 38 of 46 dated hydro plants in Italy are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Enel SpA [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a subarctic (boreal) climate (Köppen Dfc) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 46.1°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 14% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 57/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #2 largest hydro power plant of 58 in Italy by capacity.
Italy has 58 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 13,593 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Verbano 1 · Hydro · 119 MW · Ticino
- Ponte Brolla · Hydro · 3.1 MW · Ticino
- Tenero-Centrale di dotazione · Hydro · 4.2 MW · Ticino
- Gordola · Hydro · 132.5 MW · Ticino
- Stampa · Hydro · 5 MW · Ticino
- Giumaglio · Hydro · 8.9 MW · Ticino
Location
Coordinates 46.0702, 8.7339 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is RONCOVALGRANDE?
RONCOVALGRANDE is a 1,000 MW hydro power plant in Lombardy, Italy, commissioned in 1971.
How much electricity does RONCOVALGRANDE generate?
RONCOVALGRANDE generates about 845 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates RONCOVALGRANDE?
RONCOVALGRANDE is operated by Enel SpA [100%].