Country France Commission date 1988 | Status Operational Construction began 1983 | |
 | ||
Location Hitia'a, Tahiti, French Polynesia Owner(s) Electricite de Tahiti SA Units operational 1 x 300 kW, 1 x 140 kW, 1 x 100 kW, 1 x 1 MW, 2 x 3 MW Pelton-type | ||
The Hitia'a Hydroelectric Power Station, also called Faatautia Hydroelectric Power Station, is located near the commune of Hitia'a on the island Tahiti in the overseas country of France, French Polynesia. It has an installed capacity of 7.54 MW and was constructed between 1983 and 1988. The hydroelectric power station is owned by Electricite de Tahiti SA.
It uses water provided by three reservoirs high up in the Faatautia Valley, above the commune. Each reservoir is created by an embankment dam. Hitia'a 2 Dam at 17°37′44.09″S 149°20′43.56″W, which lies at an elevation of 637 m (2,090 ft) above sea level, is 19 m (62 ft) tall. It withholds a reservoir of 110,000 m3 (89 acre·ft). Next, at an elevation of 530 m (1,740 ft), Hitia'a 3 Dam at 17°37′51.15″S 149°20′8.57″W is also 19 m (62 ft) high but withholds a larger reservoir of 600,000 m3 (490 acre·ft). Finally, Hitia'a 1 Dam at 17°37′36.18″S 149°20′11.74″W lies at 511 m (1,677 ft) above sea level, is 10 m (33 ft) tall, and withholds a reservoir of 11,000 m3 (8.9 acre·ft). Water from the reservoirs is sent to the power station via a 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) long penstock. The power station contains an array of six Pelton turbine-generators which include a 300 kW, 140 kW, 100 kW, 1 MW and two 3 MW units.