Steenbras Power Station
Location
The Steenbras Upper Dam impounds the Steenbras River at an altitude of approximately 375 metres in the Hottentots Holland Mountains, upstream of the original Steenbras Dam (which is not part of the hydroelectric scheme). The Steenbras Power Station and the scheme's lower reservoir are situated on the lower slopes of the mountain at an altitude of approximately 100 metres, close to the town of Gordon's Bay and 50 kilometres (30 mi) to the south-east of central Cape Town. A series of tunnels connects the upper reservoir to the power station.
Operation
The power station is operated by the Electricity Department of the City of Cape Town. It consists of four hydroelectric turbines, each rated at 45 MW, for a total capacity of 180 MW. During peak hours, water from the upper reservoir is used to turn the turbines to generate clean energy. During off-peak hours (from 11pm until 7am), the same hardware, this time functioning as electric pumps, uses electricity purchased from the national grid to pump water from the lower reservoir back into the upper reservoir. The process is repeated, as the need arises and as hydrodynamic capacity allows.
The output of the power station is generally constrained by the 3,560 megalitres (126×10 cu ft) capacity of the lower reservoir. At maximum output the station can run for about twelve hours before the lower reservoir is full; in practice it is typically run for four to five hours a day. In winter, which is the rainy season in that part of South Africa, if the upper reservoir is sufficiently full, water can be released from the lower reservoir to the Faure water treatment works instead of being pumped back up.
See also
References
- ^ The Water Wheel (December 2015). "Water and Energy: Hydropower – Keeping The Lights On In The Mother City". Journals.co.za. Cape Town, South Africa. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ Victoria O'Regan and Onke Ngcuka (30 June 2022). "How the City of Cape Town managed to avoid Stage 6 load shedding thanks to hydroelectric scheme". Daily Maverick. Johannesburg, South Africa. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ CCH South Africa (3 May 2019). "Steenbras Plant Ready To Provide Alternative Energy". Cape Costal Homes/City Country Homes South Africa (CCH South Africa). Cape Town, South Arica. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ City of Cape Town (1 July 2022). "About Steenbras Dams". City of Cape Town. Cape Town, South Africa. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
External links
- Why load shedding is less severe here? Thank Cape Town's battery, Steenbras Dam As of 30 June 2022.