| Gordon Dam | |
| Image Caption: | Shaft connecting the third turbine to the rotor. The bearing at the top supports the load of the shaft and turbine, the bottom bearing is primarily for alignment. |
| Location Map Caption: | Location of the Gordon Dam in Tasmania |
| Coordinates: | -42.7306°N 145.9764°W |
| Country: | Australia |
| Location: | South West Tasmania |
| Purpose: | P |
| Status: | O |
| Owner: | Hydro Tasmania |
| Dam Type: | A |
| Dam Crosses: | Gordon River |
| Dam Length: | 1980NaN0 |
| Dam Width Crest: | 2.750NaN0 |
| Dam Width Base: | 17.70NaN0 |
| Dam Volume: | 154e3m3 |
| Spillway Type: | Controlled |
| Spillway Capacity: | 175m3/s |
| Res Name: | Lake Gordon |
| Res Capacity Total: | 12.41NaN1 |
| Res Catchment: | 12800NaN0 |
| Res Surface: | 2780NaN0 |
| Plant Name: | Gordon Power Station |
| Plant Operator: | Hydro Tasmania |
| Plant Commission: | 1978; 1988 |
| Plant Type: | C |
| Plant Turbines: | 3 Fuji x 144MW |
| Plant Capacity: | 432to |
| Plant Capacity Factor: | 0.37 |
| Plant Annual Gen: | 13880 |
| Extra: | [1] |
| Location Map: | Australia Tasmania |
| Location Map Size: | 280 |
| Dam Height: | 1400NaN0 |
| Plant Coordinates: | -42.73°N 145.97°W |
The Gordon Power Station is the largest conventional hydroelectric power station in Tasmania, Australia; located in the South West region of the state. The power station is situated on Gordon River. Water from Lake Gordon descends underground past the Gordon Dam and into the power station.
The power station was opened in 1978.[2] In 2024, the station underwent a refurbishment.[2]
The Gordon Power Station system comprises three 144MW Francis-type turbines that have a combined generating capacity of of electricity,[3] covering about 13% of the electricity demand of Tasmania.[4] The first two turbines were commissioned in 1978, before the third was commissioned a decade later in 1988.[5]
The power station is fuelled by water from Lake Gordon. Water from Lake Pedder is also drawn into Lake Gordon through the McPartlans Pass Canal.
The station output is fed from each machine by 18 kV aluminium busbars to the surface switchyard then passes through three 18/220 kV power transformers and 220 kV outdoor switchgear to TasNetworks' transmission grid. The switchyard also houses 22 kV apparatus used for power supply to the station and to the local community.[3] The annual output is estimated to be .[6]
Due to drought, the BassLink power feed failure and Tasmanian energy needs, in early 2016, the water levels in Lake Gordon were at the lowest ever recorded (55 meters below capacity).[7] By January 2017 they had recovered 17 meters to 28 meters below capacity. Four years later, in June 2021, the water level had increased only 3 meters to -25 meters. Between June 2021 and June 2023, the water level decreased 4 metres to 29 meters below capacity.[8]