| Yangyang Pumped Storage Power Station | |
|---|---|
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| Country | South Korea |
| Location | Yangyang |
| Coordinates | |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1996 |
| Commission date | 2006 |
| Construction cost | ₩1.1 trillion won (US$1.4 billion). |
| Owner(s) | Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power |
| Reservoir information | |
| Upper reservoir | Inje-gun |
| Reservoir capacity | 4,568,000 m3 (3,703 acre·ft) |
| Catchment area | .45 km (0 acre) |
| Lower reservoir | Yangyang-gun |
| Reservoir capacity | 19,982,000 m3 (16,200 acre·ft) |
| Catchment area | 124.9 km2 (48 sq mi) |
| Pumped-storage station information | |
| Generating units | 4 x 250 MW reversible Francis-type |
| Hydraulic head | 817 m (2,680 ft) (maximum) |
| Power generation information | |
| Installed capacity | 1000 MW |
The Yangyang Pumped Storage Power Station uses the water of the Namdae-Chun River to operate a 1,000 MW pumped storage hydroelectric power scheme, about 10 km (6 mi) west of Yangyang in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The lower reservoir is created by the Yangyang Dam on the Namdae and the upper reservoir by the Inje Dam is located 937 m (3,074 ft) above the power plant. Construction on the power plant began in 1996 and it was completed and dedicated on September 13, 2006. It is operated by Korean Midland Power Co., a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Company and was completed at a cost of ₩1.1 trillion won (US$1.4 billion).[1] The first generator was operational on February 23, 2006 and the last August 10, 2006.[2]
The operation of the power plant begins on the Namdae-Chun River where it is dammed by the Yangsang (Sangbu) Dam at , creating the lower reservoir. This dam is a 61.5 m (202 ft) tall and 275 m (902 ft) long concrete gravity dam. Water from a 124.9 km2 (48 sq mi) catchment area collects into the lower reservoir which has a 19,982,000 m3 (16,200 acre·ft) capacity, of which 4,200,000 m3 (3,405 acre·ft) is active (or "useful") capacity for the power station. The lower reservoir has a surface area of 1.1 km2 (272 acres) and operates at storage levels between 127 m (417 ft) and 131 m (430 ft) above sea level.[3]
During low electricity demand periods, such as the night time, water from the lower reservoir is pumped 937 m (3,074 ft) above the valley to the upper reservoir in the mountains. The upper reservoir is created by the Inje Dam, located 5.3 km2 (2 sq mi) west of the Yangyang Dam at . The Inje is a 84 m (276 ft) tall and 415 m (1,362 ft) long rock-fill embankment dam. The capacity of the upper reservoir is 4,200,000 m3 (3,405 acre·ft) and it has a surface area of 190 m2 (0 acre). When electricity demand rises and the power plant begins to operate, water is released from the upper reservoir back towards the underground power plant, at the western edge of the lower reservoir. Water fluctuations in the upper reservoir range from 900 m (2,953 ft) and 936 m (3,071 ft) above sea level. The power plant contains four 250 MW reversible Francis turbine-generators for an installed capacity of 1,000 MW. The drop in elevation affords a maximum hydraulic head (drop) of 817 m (2,680 ft) and effective head of 776 m (2,546 ft).[3][1]
Additionally, there are 2 x 1.5 MW Wind turbines installed at the upper reservoir and a 1.5 MW small hydro turbine on the Yangsang Dam.[4][5]