THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

How hydropower history and innovation can continue to power progress

Having been named as the Planning Institute of Australia’s Young Planner of the Year for 2024 and awarded a bursary, Entura’s Bunfu Yu travelled through Switzerland and France to study hydropower and energy innovation. Her reflections from the study tour highlight how history-rich hydropower assets can continue to evolve and add value in a changing world …

Switzerland’s Ritom hydropower project – which is in the late stages of a major redevelopment and anticipated to be operational later in 2025 – is a technical marvel of the past and the present. It is also a lesson in how energy infrastructure can evolve while still respecting its historical roots.

The original Ritom power station was commissioned in 1920 as part of a traditional hydropower scheme using water from Lake Ritom to generate electricity. It holds a special place in Swiss energy history as the first plant to supply electricity to the Gotthard railway, which is a vital north–south transit corridor through the Alps. This early integration of hydropower with transport infrastructure helped shape the modern Swiss energy landscape.

However, after more than a century of faithful service, Ritom’s aging infrastructure and the region’s changing energy needs prompted a major rethink.

Modernising with purpose

Ritom is undergoing a major transformation to meet 21^st century demands. The redevelopment project involves replacing the historic hydropower plant with modern facilities and converting it from a conventional hydropower scheme to include a pumped hydropower component. By using two existing lakes (Lake Ritom and Lago di Cadagno) as the upper and lower reservoirs, energy can be stored by pumping water uphill during periods of low demand and releasing it to generate electricity when demand peaks. This is critical for maintaining reliability and stability in today’s dynamic grid. The lakes are also popular with walkers, and this recreational value will continue alongside the repurposed scheme.

The revamped facility will increase capacity to 120 MW, improving energy resilience for both the local Ticino region and the Swiss Federal Railways. The upgrade enhances energy security and does so with a strong emphasis on environmental and community values.

Balancing environment, engineering and community

Like all major infrastructure projects, Ritom has complexities. A key concern is managing downstream water flow to protect river ecosystems. To address this, the project incorporates a demodulation basin – an engineered feature that moderates flow variations, preserving the ecological health of the river below.

Minimising disruption for the local community during construction has also been a priority. This has taken careful management, as the project is nestled between the alpine villages of Piotta and Piora. The project team constructed a dedicated cableway to move heavy materials – such as massive steel penstocks – away from narrow local roads. This solution reduced construction traffic and helped preserve the peace and safety of surrounding communities.

Ritom is an inspiring example of how infrastructure can evolve when regulators, engineers and communities work together. Innovative thinking coupled with flexibility in permitting has enabled tailored solutions that are practical and environmentally sound – an approach that is replicable worldwide.

Technical excellence delivering long-term social value

Ritom reminds us that great infrastructure is more than engineering and functionality – it can inspire and be enjoyed.

Each year, the region celebrates the connection between nature, people and infrastructure through the ‘Stairways to Heaven’ race – a brutal yet iconic event that ascends 4,261 steps alongside the original penstocks of the Ritom scheme. With an average 89% incline over 1.2 km, it is Europe’s steepest race, attracting elite athletes as well as daring locals. The climb is physically punishing, but those who reach the summit are rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the Swiss Alps and the glistening Ritom reservoir.

This race is more than a sporting challenge. It is a symbol of how infrastructure can become deeply woven into the identity of a community, engendering enduring pride and delivering long-term social value well beyond its technical purpose.

The Ritom project is a powerful reminder that the future of energy lies in more than technology alone, but in how we carefully and intentionally navigate the intersections and synergies of history, environment and communities.

Planning for progress

Redeveloping or repurposing long-standing hydropower assets demands more than engineering expertise – it requires sensitivity to contemporary expectations. Since many of these projects were first built, the regulatory environment has shifted dramatically, with much greater emphasis on biodiversity protection (terrestrial and aquatic), climate resilience, the voices of local communities, and the cultural and heritage values of the Country on which these projects have been developed. The best projects don’t treat these as hurdles, but as opportunities to build broader value into the asset’s future.

Making good decisions at the earliest stages of refurbishment, repurposing or redevelopment is critical. To ensure lasting benefits, projects will need clear strategies grounded in sound technical evidence and shaped by a strong understanding of regulatory requirements and community expectations. Long-term success is more likely when projects are not only viewed through the technical lens of extending asset life, but are reimagined with community and environment at their core. Hydropower projects such as these can be catalysts for long-term energy security, greater ecological stewardship, strengthened social outcomes, and even become a source of community pride and inspiration.

In Australia, Entura is working with Hydro Tasmania to apply these principles through our work on the redevelopment of the Tarraleah hydropower scheme, parts of which are more than 80 years old. The redevelopment aims to increase capacity and flexibility so that Tarraleah can better serve the needs of the changing energy market – and future generations. It’s a project that echoes Ritom’s lesson: that heritage and innovation can coexist to create modern, sustainable infrastructure with value that endures for generations. By striking the right balance, hydropower can continue to do what it has always done best – power progress – while also meeting the needs and values of communities and environments today and long into the future.

Bunfu (above left) thanks Lombardi Engineering Switzerland for organising a comprehensive on-site tour of the Ritom hydropower project.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bunfu Yu is a dynamic young leader in renewable energy planning, approvals, and business development. Bunfu played a pivotal role in Entura’s Environment and Planning Team’s success in achieving the Planning Institute of Australia’s National Award for Stakeholder Engagement in 2024. In 2023, Bunfu was named the National Young Planner of the Year by the Planning Institute of Australia. This honour recognised not only her passion for the planning and delivery of renewable infrastructure but also her active contribution to the profession through mentoring, public engagement, and knowledge sharing. She is currently a Senior Environmental Planner and a Business Development Manager at Entura, having joined the business as a Graduate Planner in 2018.

29 August, 2025