First use of GRP penstock in Italy

At the end of the 1980s we studied the possible use of GRP for the construction of burried penstocks, with the aim of exploiting the advantages of this type of material in terms of corrosion resistance, hydraulic efficiency, easy conditions of transport and installation. Finally, in the early 90s we installed the first penstock section made up of this material for Rino di Sonico hydropower plant (Brescia province), with the financial support of the European Commission for innovative projects. Subsequently we kept developing this technology, applying it to particularly suitable cases: we installed GRP pipes with 1.5 m diameter for the underpass of the Milan – Venice motorway, with joints specially shaped to allow the installation by means of pipe ramming in order to avoid any disturbance to the normal use of the roadway during the works.