Country Australia Purpose Power Construction began 1974 (1974) | Status Operational Opening date 1978 (1978) | |
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The Gordon Power Station is the largest conventional hydroelectric power station in Tasmania, Australia; located in the South West region of the state. The power station is situated on the Gordon River. Water from the Lake Gordon descends 183 metres (600 ft) underground into the power station.
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Technical data
The Gordon Power Station system comprises three 144-megawatt (193,000 hp) Francis-type turbines that have a combined generating capacity of 432 megawatts (579,000 hp) of electricity, covering about 13% of the electricity demand of Tasmania. The first two turbines were commissioned in 1978, before the third was commissioned a decade later in 1988.
The power station is fuelled by water from Lake Gordon. Water from Lake Pedder is also drawn into Lake Gordon through the McPartlans Pass Canal.
The station output is fed from each machine by 18 kV aluminium busbars to the surface switchyard then passes through three 18/220 kV power transformers and 220 kV outdoor switchgear to TasNetworks' transmission grid. The switchyard also houses 22 kV apparatus used for power supply to the station and to the local community. The annual output is estimated to be 1,388 gigawatt-hours (5,000 TJ).
2016 Tasmanian energy crisis
See also: Gordon Dam - 2015-2016 Tasmanian energy crisis
Due to draught, the BassLink power feed failure and Tasmanian energy needs, in early 2016, the water levels in Lake Gordon were at the lowest ever recorded By January 2017 they had recovered 17 meters to -28 meters below capacity.