The Lyon–Moutiers DC transmission scheme was the most powerful mechanical high voltage direct current

electric power transmission Electric power transmission is the bulk movement of electrical energy from a generating site, such as a power plant, to an electrical substation. The interconnected lines that facilitate this movement form a ''transmission network''. This is ...

scheme ever built. Designed by Rene Thury, it was used between 1906 and 1936 for power transmission from a

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...

power plant at

Moûtiers Moûtiers (; Arpitan: ''Motiérs''), historically also called Tarentaise, is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in Southeastern France. Moûtiers is the main access point to the Les Trois Vallées ski regio ...

Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...

, France. At the Moutiers power plant, there were four generators switched in

series Series may refer to: People with the name * Caroline Series (born 1951), English mathematician, daughter of George Series * George Series (1920–1995), English physicist Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Series, the ordered sets used i ...

, whereby one turbine drove two generators. As the power demand changed, the number of generator switched in series varied, and so did the voltage in the transmission line. The line was bipolar with a maximum of 75,000 volts to ground and so 150,000 volts between the conductors. The line was 200 kilometres long, with 190 kilometres run overhead and 10 kilometres as paper insulated underground cable. Originally the cable was rated for 75 A, but was later run with 150 A. Even after this increase in current the cable was still in good condition when the scheme was dismantled in 1936.

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* * * https://web.archive.org/web/20090914061501/http://www.electrosuisse.ch/cms.cfm/s_page/74440 {{DEFAULTSORT:Lyon-Moutiers DC transmission scheme HVDC transmission lines 1906 establishments in France 1936 disestablishments in France Energy infrastructure completed in 1906 Energy infrastructure in France