| Caniçada Dam (Hydroelectric Dam of Cávado-Caniçada) | |
| Name Official: | Barragem da Caniçada/HICA-Hidroeléctrica do Cávado-Caniçada |
| Location Map: | Portugal |
| Coordinates: | 41.653°N -8.231°W |
| Location: | Braga, Vieira do Minho, Parada do Bouro |
| Purpose: | Power |
| Status: | O |
| Opening: | 1955 |
| Owner: | Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade |
| Dam Type: | Concrete arch dam |
| Dam Crosses: | Cávado River |
| Dam Height Foundation: | 76m (249feet) |
| Dam Length: | 246m (807feet) |
| Dam Elevation Crest: | 163m (535feet) |
| Dam Volume: | 90000m2 |
| Spillway Type: | Over the dam |
| Spillway Capacity: | 1700m3/s |
| Res Capacity Total: | 170600000m2 |
| Res Capacity Active: | 159300000m2 |
| Res Surface: | 6.89km2 |
| Res Elevation: | 162m (531feet) |
| Plant Operator: | Energias de Portugal |
| Plant Commission: | 1954 |
| Plant Hydraulic Head: | 121m (397feet) (max) |
| Plant Turbines: | 2 x 31 MW Francis-type |
| Plant Capacity: | 62 MW |
| Plant Annual Gen: | 337.4 GWh |
The Caniçada Dam (Portuguese: Barragem da Caniçada/HICA-Hidroeléctrica do Cávado-Caniçada|links=no; pronounced as /pt/) is a concrete arch dam on the Cávado River, the civil parish of Parada do Bouro, in the municipality of Vieira do Minho, in the Portuguese Norte (district of Braga). It is owned by Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade (CPPE).
The dam was completed and began functioning in 1955.
In 196, approval was obtained to begin a program of observation of the dam, as proposed by the Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (Civil Engineering National Laboratory).
Caniçada Dam is a 76m (249feet) tall (height above foundation) and 246m (807feet) long arch dam with a crest altitude of 163m (535feet). The volume of the dam is 90000m2. The dam features a spillway with 4 gates over the dam with a maximum discharge per second, and one bottom outlet with maximum discharge 142m2 per second.[1]
At full reservoir level of 163m (535feet) the reservoir of the dam has a surface area of 783km2 of 6.89 (5.78)[2] km2 and a total capacity of 170.6 mio. m³; its active capacity is 159.3 (144,4)[3] mio. m³.[1] With the 144,4 mio. m³ water 32 GWh can be produced.[3]
The hydroelectric power plant went operational in 1954. It is operated by EDP. The plant has a nameplate capacity of 62[2] [3] (60[4] [5] or 100[6]) MW. Its average annual generation is 337.4[3] (283,[5] 345[2] or 346[1] [4]) GWh. The power station contains 2 Francis turbine-generators with 31 MW (34 MVA) each in an underground powerhouse 134[4] m below the surface. The turbine rotation is 300 rpm. The minimum hydraulic head is 77 m, the maximum 121 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 34 m³/s.[3] The turbines and generators were provided by Voith.[4]