Progress on the Alto Tâmega Hydroelectric Power Plant remains on track as construction advances steadily. With civil works nearly finalized and electromechanical assemblies slated for completion by the end of 2023, the commissioning phase is on the horizon.The Alto Tâmega facility, boasting a capacity of 160MW, represents the final component of the Tâmega complex. This project includes two additional developments: Gouvães, an 880MW pumped-storage plant, and Daivões, contributing 118MW, both of which have been in commercial operation since 2022.
The Alto Tâmega dam has now reached full completion, standing at 104.5m in height, with a concrete volume of 220,000m3 and a crest length of 335m. The dam's construction was executed in 21 blocks, each subdivided into 2-meter-high segments, culminating in less than a two-year timeline, finalized by the close of 2022.
Recent efforts have centered on the meticulous injection of construction joints during the spring, strategically timed to coincide with the cooling of the placed concrete.
A significant milestone emerged in July with the closure of the river diversion tunnel. In the forthcoming three months, a 28m-long concrete plug will take shape within the tunnel, ensuring permanent closure and maintaining the dam's functionality. Throughout this period, river flow will persist through the dam's bottom outlets.
The Alto Tâmega reservoir, which will cover an area of 468 ha and have a volume of 132 hm3, will then be filled, providing the water needed for the production of renewable electricity at the Alto Tâmega power plant at the foot of the dam.
The realization of the Alto Tâmega dam and its associated hydroelectric plant signifies the culmination of substantial effort by the interdisciplinary team at Iberdrola. A multifaceted endeavor involving licensing, engineering, construction oversight, commissioning, environmental considerations, and community engagement has been meticulously managed to ensure timely execution, said the company,
During the peak of construction, the Alto Tâmega Hydroelectric Power Plant site saw nearly 1000 workers engaged in the project. Meanwhile, the ongoing electromechanical assembly of the power plant remains on schedule, with turbines fully assembled and generators in advanced stages of completion. As winter approaches and the reservoir is filled, the first synchronization of a unit to the grid is projected for January 2024, heralding the plant's commercial launch in March 2024.
