Vilar Dam

Vilar Dam (Portuguese: Barragem de Vilar, also known as Barragem de Vilar-Tabuaço) is an embankment dam on the Távora, a left (southern) tributary of the Douro. It is located in the municipality Tabuaço, in Viseu District, Portugal.

Great Vilar Dam
Location of Great Vilar Dam in Portugal
Official name	Barragem de Vilar
Country	Portugal
Location	municipality Tabuaço, Viseu District
Coordinates	40°59′12.5″N 7°32′7.9″W
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1958
Opening date	1965
Owner(s)	Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade
Operator(s)	Energias de Portugal
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Rockfill embankment dam
Impounds	Távora
Height (foundation)	58 m (190 ft)
Height (thalweg)	55 m (180 ft)
Length	240 m (790 ft)
Elevation at crest	555 m (1,821 ft)
Width (crest)	5.2 m (17 ft)
Dam volume	300,000 m3 (11,000,000 cu ft)
Spillway type	Chute spillway
Spillway capacity	500 m3/s (18,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	99,750,000 m3 (80,870 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity	95,270,000 m3 (77,240 acre⋅ft)
Surface area	6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi)
Normal elevation	552 m (1,811 ft)
Operator(s)	Energias de Portugal
Commission date	1965
Hydraulic head	461 m (1,512 ft) (max)
Turbines	2 x 32.65 MW Pelton-type
Installed capacity	58 MW
Annual generation	137.6 GWh

Construction of the dam began in 1958 and was completed in 1965. It is owned by Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade (CPPE) and is used for power generation.^[1]

Dam

Vilar Dam is a 58 m tall (height above foundation) and 240 m long rockfill embankment dam with a crest altitude of 555 m. The upstream facing of the dam is made of concrete. The volume of the dam is 300,000 m³. The chute spillway with 2 radial gates is located at the right side of the dam. The maximum discharge is 500 m³/s. There is also a bottom outlet.^[1]

Reservoir

At full reservoir level of 552 m the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 6.7km² and a total capacity of 99.75 mio. m³. The active capacity is 95.27 (95.3^[2] or 96^[3]) mio. m³.^[1] With the 95.3 mio. m³ of water 115.6 GWh can be produced.^[2]

Power plant

The hydroelectric power plant was commissioned in 1965.^[2][3][4][5] It is operated by EDP. The plant has a nameplate capacity of 58^[2][4] (64)^[1][3][5] MW. Its average annual generation is 137.6^[2] (123^[4] or 148^[1][3][5]) GWh.

The power station contains 2 Pelton turbine-generators (vertical shaft) with 32.65 MW (40 MVA) in an underground powerhouse 350^[5] m below the surface, located 15.6^[4] km from the dam. The turbine rotation is 500 rpm. The minimum hydraulic head is 432.5 m, and the maximum 461 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 9 m³/s.^[2]

See also

• Portugal portal
• Water portal
• Renewable energy portal

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