Technical tours

At least four technical tours will be organized on the last day of the Congress (Friday 29 July 2016):

  • Coo pump-storage plant, East Belgium
  • Boat lifts of Canal du Centre (UNESCO World Heritage), including a boat cruise (extra cost: 30 EUR), Center Belgium
  • Rur dams and reservoirs, West Germany
  • Brown coal open pit mining, involving large scale groundwater influences and river diversion, West Germany

 

 

TOUR 1 - Coo pump-storage plant

 

Organized with the support of

 

The Coo pump-storage plant was built between 1971 and 1979 support the Tihange nuclear power plant located next to river Meuse. Its total power is 1,164 MW. Two upper reservoirs, with a storage capacity of 8.5 million m³, are situated 279 m above the lower one. This tour will include a presentation of ENGIE power plants as well as the visit of the cave where the 6 pump-turbine groups are located. Nowadays, this East-Belgian power plant is a key component of the overall power production system in which intermittent renewable energy sources play a growing part.

Half day tour. Maximum number of participants: 40. Departure from Liege: 29/07/2016 8:15 AM.

 

 

TOUR 2 - Boat lifts of Canal du Centre (UNESCO World Heritage)

 

Organized with the support of

 

This technical tour includes a visit of the historical lifts (UNESCO World Heritage) on the old Canal du Centre. This series of four 16 m high boat lifts consist of two caissons hydraulically linked for counterbalancing their weight. Remarkably, they are entirely operated by hydraulic forces, without any external input of energy. In 2002, these four lifts as well as two locks were replaced by the 73-m high Strépy-Thieu boat lift, which permits the traffic of boats up to 1350 t. This tour includes a boat cruise with crossing of the 73 m high chute by means of the Strépy-Thieu boat lift, as well as the visit of the machine rooms.

Full day tour. Maximum number of participants: 50. Departure from Liege: 29/07/2016 7:45 AM. Extra cost: 30 EUR (boat cruise).

On the way back, the bus will drop interested delegates directly at Charleroi Airport (Brussels South).

 

 

TOUR 3 - Rur dams and reservoirs (Germany)

 

Organized with the support of

 

The Rur River flows through portions of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Two dams built on the Rur will be visited: the Rur and Urft dams. The Rur dam, built in 1939, is a 77 m high earth-fill dam. The reservoir formed by this dam is the second largest in Germany with more than 200 million m³. Upstream, the Urft dam, a 58 m high masonry dam built in 1905, creates the Urft reservoir which is 2.1 km² in area. This tour will include an introductive presentation, a visit of the inspection galleries and of the Urft dam's stepped spillway. The bottom outlet of Rur dam will be operated during the visit.

Full day tour. Maximum number of participants: 50. Departure from Liege: 29/07/2016 8:15 AM.

 

 

TOUR 4 - Brown coal open pit mining (Germany)

 

Organized with the support of

 

The Rhineland open pit mine extends over roughly 300 km² in West Germany. A production of 100 Mt of brown coal per year is expected to be reached in the near future. This intensive mining has huge impacts on society and environnement such as, groundwater table lowering, resettlement of villages or the displacement of rivers. In 2005, a 5 km long reach of the River Inde was artificially deviated. The new 12 km long reach is acclaimed by the RWE designer as more environementally friendly than the original one. This tour will include a field trip in the open pit mine and a visit of the rehabilitated reach of the River Inde.

Half day tour. Maximum number of participants: 38. Departure from Liege: 29/07/2016 7:45 AM.