Valeira Dam

Valeira Dam (Portuguese: Barragem da Valeira) is a concrete gravity dam on the Douro, where the river forms the border line between the districts of Viseu and Bragança. It is located in the municipality São João da Pesqueira, in Viseu District, Portugal.

Valeira Dam
Valeira Dam downstream of the curve that follows the exceptionally tight gorge of the Douro River, known as Cachão da Valeira
Location of Valeira Dam in Portugal
Official name	Barragem da Valeira
Country	Portugal
Location	municipality São João da Pesqueira, Viseu District
Coordinates	41°9′37.8″N 7°22′27.1″W
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1971
Opening date	1975
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)	48 m (157 ft)
Length	380 m (1,250 ft)
Elevation at crest	113 m (371 ft)
Width (crest)	6 m (20 ft)
Dam volume	220,000 m3 (7,800,000 cu ft)
Spillway type	Dam body
Spillway capacity	18,000 m3/s (640,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	97,000,000 m3 (79,000 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity	8,000,000 m3 (6,500 acre⋅ft)
Surface area	7.95 km2 (3.07 sq mi)
Normal elevation	105 m (344 ft)
Operator(s)	Energias de Portugal
Commission date	1976
Hydraulic head	31.5 m (103 ft) (max)
Turbines	3 x 82.4 MW Kaplan-type
Installed capacity	240 MW
Annual generation	610.7 GWh

Construction of the dam began in 1971. The dam was completed in 1975. It is owned by Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade (CPPE).^[1]

Dam

Valeira Dam is a 48 m tall (height above foundation) and 380 m long gravity dam with a crest altitude of 113 m. The volume of the dam is 220,000 m³. The spillway with 5 radial gates is part of the dam body (maximum discharge 18,000 m³/s).^[1]

Reservoir

At full reservoir level of 105 m the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 7.95 km² and a total capacity of 97 mio. m³.^[1] The active capacity is 8^[1] (12,^[2] 13^[3] or 13,04^[4]) mio. m³.

Power plant

Valeira Dam

The run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plant was commissioned in 1976^[2][3][4] (1975).^[5] It is operated by EDP. The plant has a nameplate capacity of 240^[3][4] (216)^[1][2][5] MW. Its average annual generation is 610.7^[4] (663,^[3] 748^[2] or 801^[1][5]) GWh.

The power station contains 3 Kaplan turbine-generators with 82.4 (72)^[5] MW (80 MVA) each in a dam powerhouse located on the right side of the dam. The turbine rotation is 115.4 rpm. The minimum hydraulic head is 15.5 m, the maximum 31.5 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 360 m³/s.^[4]

The turbines were provided by Kværner, the generators by Brown, Boveri & Cie.^[5]

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.^[6]

See also

• Portugal portal
• Water portal
• Renewable energy portal

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