Kannagawa Hydropower Plant

Kannagawa Hydropower Plant

The upper Minamiaiki Dam
Location of Kannagawa Hydropower Plant
Country Japan
Location Nagano Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture
Coordinates
Status In partial operation
Commission date 2005 (Unit 1)
Owner(s) Tokyo Electric Power Company
Power station information
Primary fuel Hydroelectric
Generation units 6 x 470 MW
Power generation information
Installed capacity 470 MW
Maximum capacity 2,820 MW

The Kannagawa Hydropower Plant is an under construction pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant near Minamiaiki in Nagano Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The power plant utilizes the Minamiaiki River along with an upper and lower reservoir created by two dams, the upper Minamiaiki Dam and the lower Ueno Dam. The power station in between the two dams will contain six 470 MW pump-generators for a total installed capacity of 2,820 MW. Only Unit 1 has commenced commercial operation and did so in 2005. When completed, the plant will have the largest pumped-storage power capacity in the world.[1][2]

Contents

Construction

In July 1993, the Kannagawa Hydropower Field Survey Office was initiated and in July 1995, the power plant was approved by the Electric Power Development Coordination Council. In May 1997, construction on the project began and by October 2003, the area behind the Ueno Dam was being inundated with water and the next year, the Minamiaiki Dam's reservoir began to fill as well.[1] Both dams were completed and the upper reservoir was filled by 2004.[2]

The power station

The power station is 1,600 ft (490 m) underground and measures 708 ft (216 m) long, 108 ft (33 m) wide, and 169 ft (52 m) high. It will contain 6 x 470 MW pump generators for a total capacity of 2,820 MW. Water from the upper Minamiaiki Reservoir is transferred through the power house and after producing electricity, it is brought to the lower Ueno Reservoir. The pump-generators can then pump water from the lower reservoir back up to the upper reservoir for re-use in hydroelectric power production. The water tunnel connecting the two reservoirs is 3.8 mi (6.1 km) long.[2] The power station also has an effective hydraulic head of 653 m (2,142 ft) and maximum discharge of 510 m3/s (18,000 cu ft/s).[3] Unit 1 commenced commercial operation in 2005 and Unit 2 is expected for 2012. The other four units are expected to be operational by 2020 or later.[2][4]

The dams

The Minamiaiki Dam is located in Nagano Prefecture and is a 136 m (446 ft) high and 444 m (1,457 ft) long rock-fill dam. It is made of 7,300,000 m3 (9,500,000 cu yd) of material and withholds a 19,170,000 m3 (677,000,000 cu ft) reservoir. The Ueno Dam, in Gunma Prefecture, is a 120 m (390 ft) high and 350 m (1,150 ft) long concrete-gravity dam. It is made of 720,000 m3 (940,000 cu yd) of material and withholds a 18,400,000 m3 (650,000,000 cu ft) reservoir.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Press Release: Commencement of Commercial Operation of Unit 1 of Kannagawa Hydropower Plant-- Pumped-Storage Power Plant with World's Largest Capacity". TEPCO. Dec 22, 2005. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/05122201-e.html. Retrieved 31 August 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c d Peltier, Robert (August 15, 2006). "Kannagawa Hydropower Plant, Japan". Power Magazine. http://www.powermag.com/issues/cover_stories/Kannagawa-Hydropower-Plant-Japan_461.html. Retrieved 31 August 2010. 
  3. ^ a b "Specifications of Kannagawa Pumped Storage Power Plant". IEAHydro. http://www.ieahydro.org/04-Minamiaiki-Dam-upper-lge.htm. Retrieved 31 August 2010. 
  4. ^ "Annual Report 2010". TEPCO. http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/corpinfo/ir/tool/annual/pdf/ar2010-e.pdf. Retrieved 31 August 2010.