Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme
{{Short description|Dam in KwaZulu-Natal/Free State, South Africa}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme
| name_official =
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|28|16|54|S|29|35|08|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = South Africa
| location = KwaZulu-Natal/Free State
| status = Operational
| construction_began = 2005
| opening = 2017
| demolished =
| cost = US$3.5 billion (R25 billion)
| owner = Eskom and CMC Impregilo Mavundla
| operator =
| res_name = Bedford Reservoir
| res_capacity_total= {{Convert|22400000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}}
| lower_res_name = Bramhoek Reservoir
| lower_res_capacity_total= {{Convert|26300000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}}
| plant_hydraulic_head = {{Convert|480|m|ft|abbr=on}}{{cite web|title=Ingula 1,333 MW Pumped Storage Scheme|url=http://www.knightpiesold.com/en/index.cfm/projects/power/ingula/|publisher=Knight Piésold|access-date=12 January 2015}}
| plant_turbines =
| plant_pumpgenerators = 4 x {{convert|333|MW}} reversible Francis-type
| plant_pumps =
| plant_capacity = 1,332 MW
| plant_capacity_factor =
| website =
| extra =
}}The Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme (previously named Braamhoek) is a pumped-storage power station in the escarpment of the Little Drakensberg range straddling the border of the KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces, South Africa. It is about {{Convert|22|km|mi|abbr=on}} North-East of Van Reenen.
Design
The pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme consists of an upper and a lower dam {{convert|4.6|km}} apart and is connected to a power station by tunnels.
The power station uses 4 Francis pump turbines rated at 333 MW each, giving it a total rating of 1332 MW installed capacity.
Construction
Notable contractors included CMC Impregilo Mavundla Joint Venture{{cite web|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/live/monster.php?URL=%2Fcontent%2FIngulaUpdate_Nov09.pdf&Src=Item+2329|title=Ingula Update |date=November 2009|publisher=Eskom|access-date=9 January 2010}} and Concor on the dams.
The scheme was built at a cost of US$3.5 billion (R25 billion).{{cite web|title=Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme|url=http://www.gibb.co.za/Projects/IngulaPumpedStorageScheme.aspx|publisher=GIBB|access-date=12 January 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160215104212/https://www.gibb.co.za/Projects/IngulaPumpedStorageScheme.aspx |archive-date= 15 February 2016}}
Construction began in 2005 and the power station was scheduled to begin operations in late 2015.{{cite web|title=The Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme|url=http://www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/en-gb/projects/the-ingula-pumped-storage-scheme/587|publisher=Royal Haskoning|access-date=12 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113000035/http://www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/en-gb/projects/the-ingula-pumped-storage-scheme/587|archive-date=13 January 2015}}{{cite web|title=Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme|url=http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/NewBuild/IngulaPumpedStorage/Pages/Ingula_Pumped_Storage_Scheme.aspx|publisher=Eskom|access-date=12 January 2015}}
- The first two generators were commissioned March 2016.
- The third generator was brought into commercial operation in August 2016.
- The fourth and final one in January 2017.{{cite web|title=S.Africa: Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme's second unit synchronised|url=http://www.esi-africa.com/news/s-africa-ingula-pumped-storage-schemes-second-unit-synchronised/|publisher=ESI Africa|access-date=1 April 2016|date=1 April 2016}}{{cite news | url=http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/load-shedding-is-history-says-eskom-as-another-ingula-unit-goes-live-20160831 | title=Load shedding is history, says Eskom as another Ingula unit goes live | work=News24 | access-date=31 August 2016}}{{cite web | url = https://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2017/01/all-units-in-commercial-operation-at-1-332-mw-ingula-pumped-storage-project-in-south-africa.html | title = All units in commercial operation at 1,332-MW Ingula pumped storage project in South Africa | last = Poindexter | first = Gregory B. | date = 2017-01-31 | publisher = hydroworld.com | access-date = 2018-05-01}}
Detailed breakdown
The pumped-storage hydroelectric plant uses water from the upper reservoir to generate electricity during the peak demand periods of the day. At night, excess power on the grid generated by conventional coal and nuclear plants is used to pump water to the upper reservoir.
- The upper Bedford Dam on Bedford stream, a tributary of the Wilge River, was completed in April 2011. It is a {{Convert|39|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall concrete-face rock-fill dam. It has a {{Convert|22400000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}} water storage capacity of which {{Convert|19200000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}} can be used for power generation.
- The lower Bramhoek Dam on Bramhoek stream, a tributary of the Klip River, was completed in November 2011. It is a {{Convert|41|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall roller-compacted concrete gravity dam. It has a {{Convert|26300000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}} water storage capacity of which {{Convert|21900000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}} can be pumped up to the upper reservoir.
- A {{Convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} long headrace tunnel connects the upper reservoir to the underground power station which houses 4 x {{convert|333|MW}} reversible Francis pump-turbines. The elevation between the two reservoirs affords a hydraulic head (water drop) of {{Convert|480|m|ft|abbr=on}}.
- Water from the power station is discharged down a {{Convert|2.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} long tailrace tunnel to the lower reservoir.{{cite journal|last1=Lonsdale|first1=Lauren|title=Ingula pumped storage dams progressing well|journal=Civil Engineering|date=June 2010|volume=18|issue=5|page=24|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/60638919/ingula-pumped-storage-dams-progressing-well|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225149/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/60638919/ingula-pumped-storage-dams-progressing-well|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-03|access-date=12 January 2015}}
Storage capacity
The energy storage capacity is 21,000 MWh or 15.8 generating hours.{{cite journal|title=Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, Design and Construction|last1=Sawyer|last2=Du Plessis
|url=https://britishdams.org/assets/documents/conferences/2010/papers/6-6%20Sawyer%20-%20Ingula%20Pumped%20Storage%20Scheme.pdf|access-date=27 March 2019|page=2}}
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|South Africa|Water|Renewable energy}}}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120319010748/http://www.eskom.co.za/c/article/54/ingula-pumped-storage-scheme/ Eskom's Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme page]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110911151121/http://www.calzonihydro.it/Clienti/IngulaSouthAfrica/tabid/142/language/en-US/Default.aspx Ingula SouthAfrica]
{{Power in South Africa |state=expanded}}
{{Electricity generation}}
Category:Pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations in South Africa
Category:Concrete-face rock-fill dams
Category:Roller-compacted concrete dams
Category:Dams completed in 2011
Category:Underground power stations
Category:Buildings and structures in KwaZulu-Natal
Category:Buildings and structures in the Free State (province)
Category:Economy of the Free State (province)
Category:Economy of KwaZulu-Natal
Category:21st-century architecture in South Africa
{{SouthAfrica-dam-stub}}