Jacquier-Luisier SA

Founded in 1989, this mechanical engineering workshop, based in Evionnaz, specialises in the manufacture of Pelton turbines, a technology that is especially well-suited to mini hydropower installations with medium and high heads. It offers its clients turnkey and made-to-measure solutions.

“We make all the parts without subcontracting, in our 1,700 m² workshop, using around sixty conventional and digital machines,” begins Claude Luisier, the founder, together with Claude Jacquier, of the company Jacquier-Luisier SA. Alongside its machinery construction, digital control components and gear cutting activities, the company also specialises in the manufacture of Pelton turbines, used in small-scale hydropower installations. At the heart of a Pelton turbine is a bucket wheel, which is driven by the kinetic energy of water introduced by one or more adjustable injectors. This particularly efficient wheel enables an energy yield of around 90% to be achieved. “The water arrives under high pressure, and great precision in the design of the buckets enables the losses to be kept to a minimum. By way of comparison, a heat engine coupled to an alternator will never give such a high yield; the expected output is generally around 65%.”

Working on the basis of two or three installations per annum, the implementation of mini hydroelectric plant projects represents 25% of the workshop’s activities. “There is huge potential in Valais for small-scale hydropower with medium and high heads.” Indeed, in most of the canton’s municipalities, springs and reservoirs are located at altitudes of 1,500 to 2,000 metres. “Traditionally, where there is a penstock leading to a village, a sluice gate enables the pressure to be reduced prior to distribution. All that is needed to produce energy, therefore, is to redirect this water via a bypass and turbine. This has no impact on the environment nor effect on the water quality.”

No two installations are alike
Some municipalities in Valais already have several small-scale hydropower installations, such as Bagnes, where Jacquier-Luisier has just installed the municipality’s eighth. The machines produced by the company also enable turbines to be installed in natural water courses, including private springs, and can also be placed in the outflows from WWTPs. “Placed end to end they combine to achieve incredible outputs!”

In order to implement these projects and offer as wide a range of services as possible, a consortium has been established with the company Telsa to offer turnkey installations from design through to maintenance. “Our partner company produces the electrical control panels for the turbine, while we concentrate on the mechanical aspect of the installation, that is the pipework and the manufacture, assembly and commissioning of the turbine.” For the engineering work, Jacquier-Luisier also works together with the MHylab research laboratory. “Based on calculations relating to the flow rate and the height of the head, the engineers determine the diameter of the wheel, the shape of the buckets and the diameter of the injector. This enables us to complete the design and manufacture the machine to the individual specifications – no two installations are alike.”

Jacquier-Luisier also works on large-scale hydropower installations. “We are approved by the company Andritz – one of the world leaders in turbines – for the manufacture of regulators, and for certain maintenance aspects.” Claude Luisier is also involved in professional training, and is President of the Commission for inter-company training in Valais.