Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme

The Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme consists of two 200 megawatts (270,000 hp) turbine units located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) upstream of the Kogelberg Dam on the Palmiet River near Cape Town, South Africa.[2] The pumped-storage hydroelectricity plant is capable of responding to a surge in peak power demand in minutes.[3] At night, excess power on the grid generated by conventional coal and nuclear plants is used to pump water to the upper Rockview Dam overlooking Gordon's Bay.

Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme
Dam and tower of the Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme seen from the Palmiet River
Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme is located in South Africa
Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme
Location of Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme in South Africa
LocationWestern Cape
Coordinates34°11′52″S 18°58′27″E / 34.19782°S 18.97407°E / -34.19782; 18.97407
StatusOperational
Opening date1988; 36 years ago (1988)
Operator(s)Eskom
Upper reservoir
CreatesRockview Dam
Total capacity3 100 000 m3[1]
Lower reservoir
CreatesKogelberg Dam
Power Station
Installed capacity400 MW

It is regarded[by whom?] as a forerunner in environmental engineering. The whole Palmiet site is a conservation area and in December 1998 the area was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO - the first in South Africa.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Eskom - Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme". Eskom. 28 February 2023.
  3. ^ "PUMPED STORAGE HYDROELECTRIC SCHEMES AND WATER TRANSFER" (PDF). Eskom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
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