Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station

{{Infobox dam

| name = Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station

| image = File:HE ĐerdapI Karataš.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| image_caption = Iron Gates seen from Kladovo

| name_official =

| dam_crosses = Danube River

| location = Iron Gate
Serbia
Romania

| dam_type =

| dam_length = {{convert|1278|m|ft|abbr=on}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.baraje.ro/baraje/grepam/pf1.htm |title=Specifications |access-date=2010-08-08 |archive-date=2016-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127232249/http://baraje.ro/baraje/grepam/pf1.htm |url-status=dead }}

| dam_height = {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| dam_width_base =

| spillway_type =

| spillway_capacity =

| construction_began = 7 September 1964

| opening = {{Start date|1972|05|16|df=y}}

| cost =

| owner =

| res_name = Iron Gate I Reservoir

| res_capacity_total = {{convert|2.1|km3|mi3|abbr=on}}

| res_catchment = {{convert|577,250|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}

| res_surface = {{convert|104.41|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}

| res_max_depth =

| plant_operator =

| plant_turbines = Romania: 6 × 194.3 MW
Serbia: 6 × 201 MW

| plant_capacity = 2,371.8 MW

| plant_annual_gen = Romania: 5.24 TWh
Serbia: 5.65 TWh

| plant_commission =

| plant_decommission =

| location_map = Serbia#Romania

| location_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|44|40|15|N|22|31|45|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| website =

| extra =

}}

The Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station ({{langx|ro|Porțile de Fier I}}, {{langx|sr|Ђердап I}}/Đerdap I) is the largest dam on the Danube river and one of the largest hydro power plants in Europe. It is located on the Iron Gate gorge, between Romania and Serbia.

The Romanian side of the power station produces approximately {{nowrap|5.24 TWh}} annually, while the Serbian side of the power station produces {{nowrap|5.65 TWh}}.

History

The project started in 1964 as a joint-venture between the governments of Romania and Yugoslavia for the construction of a major dam on the Danube River which would serve both countries. At the time of completion in 1972, it was the 10th largest hydroelectric power stations in the world with twelve Kaplan turbines generating {{nowrap|2,052 MW}}, divided equally between the two countries at {{nowrap|1,026 MW}} each.[http://www.djerdap.rs/index.aspx?pageno=14&mId=177&mpId=69 HE Djerdap (in Serbian)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813183115/http://www.djerdap.rs/index.aspx?pageno=14&mId=177&mpId=69 |date=2009-08-13 }}

The small inhabited island of Ada Kaleh was submerged during the construction.

= Modernization =

As the original turbines' 30 years lifespan came to an end, in 1998 the Romanian half of the dam started a program of modernization. As part of this program, the first of the turbines was stopped in 1999. By 2007 the program was completed and the Romanian half of the dam's operations were back to full capacity. The nominal capacity of each of the six units was increased from {{nowrap|171 MW}} to {{nowrap|194.3 MW}}, thus giving an installed capacity of {{nowrap|1,165.8 MW}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.hidroelectrica.ro/Details.aspx?page=40 |title=Hidroelectrica |access-date=2012-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122051110/http://www.hidroelectrica.ro/Details.aspx?page=40 |archive-date=2012-11-22 |url-status=dead }} and increasing the entire power generation capacity of the dam to {{nowrap|2,192 MW}} at the time. On the Serbian part of the dam, modernization started in July 2008;{{cite web |url=http://www.djerdap.rs/index.aspx?pageno=45&mId=473&mpId=72 |title=ХЕ Ђердап - Технички инфо - Ревитализација |access-date=2009-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627051824/http://www.djerdap.rs/index.aspx?pageno=45&mId=473&mpId=72 |archive-date=2009-06-27 }} till March 2016 were modernised {{nowrap|units 4 to 6}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.power-m.ru/press-center/news/power-machines-manufactured-hydraulic-equipment-for-party-serbian-hpp-djerdap-1/|title="Силовые машины» изготовили партию гидрооборудования для сербской ГЭС «Джердап-1"|publisher=www.power-m.ru|lang=en|accessdate=2017-11-04|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003308/http://www.power-m.ru/press-center/news/power-machines-manufactured-hydraulic-equipment-for-party-serbian-hpp-djerdap-1/|archivedate=2017-11-07|url-status=dead}} Modernisation was finished in December 2023, the nominal capacity of each of the six units was increased from 174 MW to 201 MW. Units were upgraded with the help of Russian company Power Machines from Saint Petersburg, as well as their subcontractors with the participation of eleven domestic companies.{{cite web | url=https://mfd.ru/news/view/?id=2605377 | title=Реновация ГЭС "Джердап-1", важнейшего российско-сербского проекта, завершена - посол РФ }}

In addition to the upgrades, the Serbian side is planning on building a new, smaller power station, called Iron Gate III ({{langx|sr|Ђердап III}}/Đerdap III).{{cite web |url=http://www.djerdap.rs/index.aspx?pageno=20&mId=472&mpId=72 |title=HE Đerdap - Razvoj |access-date=2009-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006020321/http://www.djerdap.rs/index.aspx?pageno=20&mId=472&mpId=72 |archive-date=2009-10-06 }}

= Gallery =

File:Josip Broz Tito i Georgi Georgiju Dež, potpisivanje sporazuma o izgradnji sistema Đerdap.jpg|Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej and Josip Broz Tito signing the treaty that allowed for the construction process to begin, 30 November 1963

File:Deo temeljne jame, Đerdap.jpg|Foundations being laid on the Yugoslav side

File:Izgradnja zagata, građevine za pregrađivanje korita reke, Đerdap.jpg|Concrete slabs being thrown into the Danube to temporarily redirect the flow of water

File:Portile de Fier 40636X3X5.jpg|Foundations being built on the Romanian side

File:Izgled gradilišta HE Đerdap I posle pregrađivanja Dunava.jpg|Overview of the construction site from Davidovac on the Yugoslavian side towards Gura Văii on the Romanian site, the viaducts of the new DN6 trunk road and of the Craiova-Caransebeș railway are also seen under construction on the Romanian side

File:Tri delimično izgrađena prelivna polja na desnoj obali Dunava, Đerdap.jpg|Opened floodgates during construction

File:Izgradnja mašinske zgrade hidroelektrane Đerdap I.jpg|The foundations for the turbine and aggregates on the Romanian side

File:Portile de Fier 40640X4X5.jpg|Engineers working on the turbine shaft on the Romanian side

File:Maketa HE Đerdap I.jpg|Model of the power station made in Belgrade

File:Josip Broz Tito, obilazak HE Đerdap I tokom puštanja u rad 1972. godine.jpg|Josip Broz Tito on the opening day, 16 May 1972