Hydraulic or thermal? When Tignes was swallowed up in the name of the national interest

More than two centuries after the first battery invented by Volta, electricity is poised to establish itself as the energy of the 21st century. But each technology, each mode of production, each use has resulted from battles. Real duels whose outcome has helped shape our energy future.

France, in 1945. Outraged, broken, but liberated. Everything is missing. “At the end of the war, the French live to the rhythm of power cuts”recall Boris Dänzer-Kantof and Félix Torres, authors of The Energy of France (1). Two major decisions are made. The nationalization of electricity was passed in April 1946: 154 production companies, 251 gas companies, 86 transport companies, and 1150 distribution companies joined together to create EDF. Then, the first plan, drafted under the direction of Jean Monnet, paces the effort, in priority in six sectors: coal, electricity, steel, construction, agriculture and transport. When the Commissariat presents its complete plan…