The Afourer Pumped Storage Station is a pumped storage hydroelectric scheme located in the hills above Afourer of Azilal Province, Morocco. The scheme consists of two power stations with a combined installed capacity of 465 megawatts (624,000 hp). Construction on the project began in 2001 and was complete in 2004. It was funded by the Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development at a cost of US$220 million.[2]
| Afourer Pumped Storage Station | |
|---|---|
 Upper reservoir | |
| Country | Morocco |
| Location | Afourer |
| Coordinates | 32°12′24″N 06°31′51″W / 32.20667°N 6.53083°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 2004 |
| Construction cost | US$220 million |
| Owner(s) | Office National de L'Electricite (ONE) |
| Upper reservoir | |
| Creates | Upper Afourer Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 1,260,000 m3 (1,021 acre⋅ft) |
| Lower reservoir | |
| Creates | Lower Afourer Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 1,260,000 m3 (1,021 acre⋅ft) |
| Power Station | |
| Turbines | Step 1: 2 x 172.5 MW Step 2: 2 x 60 MW reversible Francis turbines[1] |
| Installed capacity | 465 MW (624,000 hp) |
Design and operation
editWater for the scheme is derived from the Aït Ouarda Dam on the El Abid River at 32°06′32″N 06°30′34″W / 32.10889°N 6.50944°W, just downstream of the Bin el Ouidane Dam. Water from the dam is pumped up 600 m (1,969 ft) in elevation via Step 1 to the Upper Afourer Reservoir at 32°10′32″N 06°32′02″W / 32.17556°N 6.53389°W which has a capacity of 1,260,000 m3 (1,021 acre⋅ft) and lies at an elevation of 1,280 m (4,199 ft) above sea level. Step 1's power and pumping station contains 2 x 172.5 MW reversible Francis turbines. From the upper reservoir, water can be released back to Step 1 for power generation or released 800 m (2,625 ft) down in elevation to the Lower Afourer Reservoir at 32°12′36″N 06°31′01″W / 32.21000°N 6.51694°W which lies at an elevation of 480 m (1,575 ft) and also has a capacity of 1,260,000 m3 (1,021 acre⋅ft). The power station at the lower reservoir, Step 2, contains 2 x 60 megawatts (80,000 hp) reversible Francis turbines From the lower reservoir, water can be pumped back into the upper reservoir or released into a canal near Afourer for use in irrigation.[3]
See also
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References
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- ^ "STEP Afourer I and II Power Project Morocco". Global Energy Observatory. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- ^ "Afourer Pumped Storage Hydro-Power Plant". AidData. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
- ^ "Waterproofing with PVC geomembrane of two ponds at the Pumped Storage Station of AFOURER (Morocco)" (PDF). Renolit Waterproofing. Retrieved 23 August 2011.