Escaldes Hydroelectric Power Station

Escaldes Hydroelectric Power Plant

Inside the power house
Location of Escaldes Hydroelectric Power Plant in Andorra
Country Andorra
Location Engolasters, Encamp
Coordinates 42°30′54.11″N 1°33′12.94″E / 42.5150306°N 1.5535944°E / 42.5150306; 1.5535944Coordinates: 42°30′54.11″N 1°33′12.94″E / 42.5150306°N 1.5535944°E / 42.5150306; 1.5535944
Status Operational
Construction began 1930
Commission date 1934, 2008
Operator(s) Forces Electriques d'Andorra (FEDA)
Pumped-storage power station
Generating units 2 x 14 MW, 1 x 17 MW Pelton-type
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 45 MW

Escaldes Hydroelectric Power Station is located in Engolasters of the Encamp parish in Andorra. Its namesake, Les Escaldes, is located just to the south in Escaldes-Engordany parish. It uses water from Lake Engolasters, located 1,616 metres (5,302 ft) above sea level in order to generate hydroelectricity. A 1,250 metres (4,100 ft) long penstocks deliver water from the 178 m (584 ft) long Engolasters Dam to the power station which contains two 14 MW and one 17 MW Pelton turbine-generators. The difference in elevation between the lake and power station is about 490 metres (1,610 ft).[1][2]

In 1929 the General Council of Andorra granted Forces Andorranes Societat Anonima (FASA), a Spanish and French-owned company, the ability to develop the country for hydroelectric power. In return, FASA would construct roads various highways connecting to Andorra in return for exporting the energy. Construction of the power station and Engolasters Dam began in 1930 and the power station with two 14 MW generators was commissioned in August 1934.[2][3] Beginning in 2007, a third Pelton turbine-generator was added to the station. At 17 MW, it was commissioned in 2008.[4]

Penstock extending from Engolasters Dam

References

  1. ↑ "Rail and Voucher Systems in Power Plants and Mines of Western Pyrenees Catalan, Andorra and Val d'Aran." (PDF) (in Spanish). DocuTren. p. 15. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Hydroelectric Power Plants in Europe - Other". IndustCards. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Escaldes Hydroelectric Power Station". Forces Elèctriques d'Andorra. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Hydro News" (PDF) (in Spanish). Andritz. November 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.