List of hydroelectric power station failures

This list is concerned with severe and abnormal power outages which caused major power failures due to damage to the hydro site itself or its connections. Any electric grid is vulnerable to instability after the loss of a large generating source or transmission line. Every generating station trips from time to time however some hydro electric power stations can be exceptionally large in respect to connected grid capacity so any failure for these proportionally large stations can be more problematic than the failure of a thermal or nuclear station. A serious failure in a proportionally large hydro electric generating station or its associated transmission line will remove a large block of power from the grid that may lead to widespread and in some cases long-term disturbances.

List of failures

Plant Location Description Year Reference
Herdecke () Ruhr 132 MW power generation loss, due to overtopping after failure of Mohne dam 1943 [1]
Mohne Dam Ruhr 5 MW power generation loss, 1500 fatalities, due to enemy bombing 1943 [1]
Sui-ho, Fusen, Kyosen and Choshin Dams Korea due to enemy bombing, attacked during the Korean War resulting in the loss of approximately 90% of North Korea's generation capacity 1952 [2]
Banqiao Dam China 26000 flooding fatalities, loss of generation, dam failed by overtopping 1975 [1]
Bieudron Hydroelectric Power Station Switzerland 1269 MW loss, penstock rupture, three fatalities, flooding and loss of generating capacity 2000 [3]
Itaipu Dam Brazil 18 GW power generation loss due to storm damage of transmission lines, 2009 see also: 2009 Brazil and Paraguay blackout
Sayano–Shushenskaya Dam Russia 2009 Sayano-Shushenskaya hydro accident, 6 GW power generation loss, 75 fatalities, due to turbine failure 2009 [1]
Manitoba Hydro Grand Rapids Unit 1 Manitoba head cover failure, 452 MW loss, 1992 [4]
Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station Missouri pumped storage failed by overtopping, 450 MW, 2005 [1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e No reference
  2. ^ "Historical Review: Bombings of Dams". Bulletin. Canadian Dam Association. Winter 2009. http://www.cda.ca/bulletins/CDAQ_0109_L.pdf. Retrieved 11 August 2011. 
  3. ^ "Cleuson-Dixence Rehab Nears End". Tunnel Builder. August 9, 2008. http://www.tunnelintelligence.com/safety-in-detail-167.html. Retrieved 22 January 2011. 
  4. ^ Pawlikewich, W. L. (1993), Grand Rapids Generating Station Unit #1 Headcover Failure, Canadian Electrical Association, March 1993, Montreal, Canada