University Institute of Technology 1

This professional immersion experience brought together students and faculty from the departments GCCD, GEII, MP, MT2E and RT, who came to gain a firsthand understanding of the technical, industrial, and human challenges involved in a major hydroelectric project.

An exceptional industrial site

Commissioned in 2020, the Livet-Gavet power plant is France’s latest major hydroelectric project. Fully integrated into the mountainside, it single-handedly replaces six older power plants that were historically located along the Romanche River, while increasing electricity production by nearly 40%.

The teams fromEDF Hydro Alpes presented the following to students and teachers:

• the origins of the project,
• the technical and environmental challenges encountered during construction,
• as well as the detailed operation of the facility (turbines, tunnels, penstock, machine room, control systems, etc.).

A particularly memorable visit, both because of the structure’s impressive scale and the complexity of the technological solutions employed.

A concrete example of BUT their career paths

For the students, this visit provided a direct link between the courses they are taking at IUT1 and their industrial applications. But beyond the technical aspects, this meeting with EDF’s teams fully embodies IUT1’s core philosophy: hands-on training, in close collaboration with local businesses and major industrial players.

A big thank you to EDF Hydro Alpes for their warm welcome and the fruitful discussions, which further strengthen the ties between IUT1 and the socio-economic community regarding the challenges of the energy transition.