| Yangyang Pumped Storage Power Station | |
| Coordinates: | 38.0103°N 128.5428°W |
| Country: | South Korea |
| Location: | Yangyang |
| Status: | O |
| Construction Began: | 1996 |
| Opening: | 2006 |
| Cost: | ₩1.1 trillion won (US$1.4 billion). |
| Owner: | Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power |
| Res Name: | Inje-gun |
| Res Capacity Total: | 4568000m2 |
| Lower Res Name: | Yangyang-gun |
| Lower Res Capacity Total: | 19982000m2 |
| Plant Turbines: | 4 x 250MW reversible Francis-type |
| Plant Hydraulic Head: | 817m (2,680feet) (maximum) |
| Plant Capacity: | 1000MW |
The Yangyang Pumped Storage Power Station uses the water of the Namdae-Chun River to operate a 1000MW pumped storage hydroelectric power scheme, about west of Yangyang in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The lower reservoir is created by the Yangyang Dam on the Namdae and the upper reservoir by the Inje Dam is located above the power plant. Construction on the power plant began in 1996 and it was completed and dedicated on September 13, 2006. It is operated by Korean Midland Power Co., a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Company and was completed at a cost of ₩1.1 trillion won (US$1.4 billion).[1] The first generator was operational on February 23, 2006 and the last August 10, 2006.[2]
The operation of the power plant begins on the Namdae-Chun River where it is dammed by the Yangsang (Sangbu) Dam at, creating the lower reservoir. This dam is tall and long concrete gravity dam. Water from a 124.90NaN0 catchment area collects into the lower reservoir which has a 19982000m2 capacity, of which 4200000m2 is active (or "useful") capacity for the power station. The lower reservoir has a surface area of 1.10NaN0 and operates at storage levels between 127and above sea level.[3]
During low electricity demand periods, such as the night time, water from the lower reservoir is pumped above the valley to the upper reservoir in the mountains. The upper reservoir is created by the Inje Dam, located 5.30NaN0 west of the Yangyang Dam at . The Inje is a 840NaN0 tall and long rock-fill embankment dam. The capacity of the upper reservoir is 4200000m2 and it has a surface area of 190m2. When electricity demand rises and the power plant begins to operate, water is released from the upper reservoir back towards the underground power plant, at the western edge of the lower reservoir. Water fluctuations in the upper reservoir range from and above sea level. The power plant contains four 250 MW reversible Francis turbine-generators for an installed capacity of 1,000 MW. The drop in elevation affords a maximum hydraulic head (drop) of and effective head of .[1] [3]
Additionally, there are 2 x Wind turbines installed at the upper reservoir and a 1.5 MW small hydro turbine on the Yangsang Dam.[4] [5]