Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme Explained

Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme
Coordinates:	-28.2817°N 29.5856°W
Country:	South Africa
Location:	KwaZulu-Natal/Free State
Status:	Operational
Construction Began:	2005
Opening:	2017
Cost:	US$3.5 billion (R25 billion)
Owner:	Eskom and CMC Impregilo Mavundla
Res Name:	Bedford Reservoir
Res Capacity Total:	22400000m^2
Lower Res Name:	Bramhoek Reservoir
Lower Res Capacity Total:	26300000m^2
Plant Hydraulic Head:	480m (1,580feet)^[1]
Plant Pumpgenerators:	4 x reversible Francis-type
Plant Capacity:	1,332 MW

The Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme (previously named Braamhoek) is a pumped-storage power station in the escarpment of the Little Drakensberg range straddling the border of the KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces, South Africa. It is about 22km (14miles) North-East of Van Reenen.

Design

The pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme consists of an upper and a lower dam apart and is connected to a power station by tunnels.

The power station uses 4 Francis pump turbines rated at 333 MW each, giving it a total rating of 1332 MW installed capacity.

Construction

Notable contractors included CMC Impregilo Mavundla Joint Venture^[2] and Concor on the dams.

The scheme was built at a cost of US$3.5 billion (R25 billion).^[3]

Construction began in 2005 and the power station was scheduled to begin operations in late 2015.^{[4] [5]}

• The first two generators were commissioned March 2016.
• The third generator was brought into commercial operation in August 2016.
• The fourth and final one in January 2017.^{[6] [7] [8]}

Detailed breakdown

The pumped-storage hydroelectric plant uses water from the upper reservoir to generate electricity during the peak demand periods of the day. At night, excess power on the grid generated by conventional coal and nuclear plants is used to pump water to the upper reservoir.

• The upper Bedford Dam on Bedford stream, a tributary of the Wilge River, was completed in April 2011. It is a 39m (128feet) tall concrete-face rock-fill dam. It has a 22400000m² water storage capacity of which 19200000m² can be used for power generation.
• The lower Bramhoek Dam on Bramhoek stream, a tributary of the Klip River, was completed in November 2011. It is a 41m (135feet) tall roller-compacted concrete gravity dam. It has a 26300000m² water storage capacity of which 21900000m² can be pumped up to the upper reservoir.
• A 2km (01miles) long headrace tunnel connects the upper reservoir to the underground power station which houses 4 x reversible Francis pump-turbines. The elevation between the two reservoirs affords a hydraulic head (water drop) of 480m (1,580feet).
• Water from the power station is discharged down a 2.5km (01.6miles) long tailrace tunnel to the lower reservoir.^{[1] [5] [9]}

Storage capacity

The energy storage capacity is 21,000 MWh or 15.8 generating hours.^[10]

See also

• List of power stations in South Africa
• List of pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations

External links

• Eskom's Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme page
• Ingula SouthAfrica

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ingula 1,333 MW Pumped Storage Scheme. Knight Piésold. 12 January 2015.
2. Web site: Ingula Update . November 2009. Eskom. 9 January 2010.
3. Web site: Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme. GIBB. 12 January 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160215104212/https://www.gibb.co.za/Projects/IngulaPumpedStorageScheme.aspx . 15 February 2016.
4. Web site: The Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme. Royal Haskoning. 12 January 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150113000035/http://www.royalhaskoningdhv.com/en-gb/projects/the-ingula-pumped-storage-scheme/587. 13 January 2015.
5. Web site: Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme. Eskom. 12 January 2015.
6. Web site: S.Africa: Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme's second unit synchronised. ESI Africa. 1 April 2016. 1 April 2016.
7. News: Load shedding is history, says Eskom as another Ingula unit goes live . News24 . 31 August 2016.
8. Web site: All units in commercial operation at 1,332-MW Ingula pumped storage project in South Africa . Poindexter . Gregory B. . 2017-01-31 . hydroworld.com . 2018-05-01.
9. Lonsdale. Lauren. Ingula pumped storage dams progressing well. Civil Engineering. June 2010. 18. 5. 24. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225149/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/60638919/ingula-pumped-storage-dams-progressing-well. dead. 2016-03-03. 12 January 2015.
10. Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, Design and Construction. Sawyer. Du Plessis. 27 March 2019. 2.