Crestuma–Lever Dam

Crestuma–Lever Dam (Portuguese: Barragem de Crestuma-Lever) is a concrete gravity dam on the Douro. It is located in the municipality Vila Nova de Gaia, in Porto District, Portugal.

Crestuma–Lever Dam
Upstream face of the dam and retained lake
Location of Crestuma–Lever Dam in Portugal
Official name	Barragem de Crestuma-Lever
Country	Portugal
Location	municipality Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District
Coordinates	41°4′21.9″N 8°29′10.8″W
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1976
Opening date	1985
Owner(s)	Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade
Operator(s)	Energias de Portugal
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Concrete gravity dam
Impounds	Douro
Height (foundation)	25.5 m (84 ft)
Length	470 m (1,540 ft)
Elevation at crest	25.5 m (84 ft)
Width (crest)	8.2 m (27 ft)
Dam volume	205,000 m3 (7,200,000 cu ft)
Spillway type	Dam body
Spillway capacity	26,000 m3/s (920,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	110,000,000 m3 (89,000 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity	22,500,000 m3 (18,200 acre⋅ft)
Surface area	12.98 km2 (5.01 sq mi)
Normal elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Operator(s)	Energias de Portugal
Commission date	1985
Hydraulic head	12.6 m (41 ft) (max)
Turbines	3 x 39 MW Kaplan-type
Installed capacity	117 MW
Annual generation	360 GWh

Construction of the dam began in 1976. The dam was completed in 1985. It is owned by Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade (CPPE).^[1]

Dam

Crestuma–Lever Dam is a 25.5^[2][3][4] m tall (height above foundation) and 470 m long gravity dam with a crest altitude of 25.5 m. The volume of the dam is 205,000 m³. The spillway with 8 gates is part of the dam body (maximum discharge 26,000 m³/s).^[1]

Reservoir

At full reservoir level of 13 m (maximum flood level of 21.5 m) the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 12.98 km² and a total capacity of 110 mio. m³.^[1] The active capacity is 22.5^[1][2] (16^[4] or 19^[5]) mio. m³.

Panoramic view of the dam from a boat on its lake

Power plant

The run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant was commissioned in 1985^[2][5][6] (1986).^[3][4] It is operated by EDP. The plant has a nameplate capacity of 117^[2][3] (105^[4][5] or 108^[1][6]) MW. Its average annual generation is 360^[2] (311,^[3] 363,^[5] 366.9,^[1][6] or 399^[4]) GWh.

The power station contains 3 Kaplan turbine-generators (horizontal axis) with 39 (36^[6]) MW (36.1 MVA) each in a dam powerhouse located on the left side of the dam. The turbine rotation is 83.3 rpm. The minimum hydraulic head is 6.8 m, the maximum 12.6 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 450 m³/s.^[2]

The turbines and generators were provided by Sorefame.^[6]

Lock

On the left side of the dam is a lock, which can handle ships with the following maximum properties: 83 m in length, 11.40 m on the beam, 3.8 m load-draught and a cargo capacity of 2500 tons.^[7]

See also

• Portugal portal
• Water portal
• Renewable energy portal

• List of power stations in Portugal
• List of dams and reservoirs in Portugal