Picote Dam (Portuguese: Barragem de Picote) is a concrete arch dam on the Douro, located in the municipality Miranda do Douro, in Bragança District, Portugal.

Picote Dam
Picote Dam is located in Portugal
Picote Dam
Location of Picote Dam in Portugal
Official nameBarragem de Picote
Locationmunicipality Miranda do Douro, Bragança District, Portugal
Coordinates41°22′41.9″N 6°21′5.7″W / 41.378306°N 6.351583°W / 41.378306; -6.351583
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Construction began1953
Opening date1958
Owner(s)Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete arch dam
ImpoundsDouro
Height100 m (330 ft)
Length139 metres (456 ft)
Elevation at crest480 m (1,570 ft)
Width (crest)3.45 m (11.3 ft)
Dam volume205,000 m3 (7,200,000 cu ft)
Spillway typeControlled, dam face
Spillway capacity11,000 m3/s (390,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity63,000,000 m3 (51,000 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity13,430,000 m3 (10,890 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area63,750 km2 (24,610 sq mi)
Surface area2.44 km2 (0.94 sq mi)
Power Station
Operator(s)Energias de Portugal
Commission datePicote I: 1958
Picote II: 2011
Hydraulic headPicote I: 74 m (243 ft) (max)
Picote II: 74 m (243 ft) (static)
TurbinesPicote I: 3 x 65 MW Francis-type
Picote II: 1 x 246 MW Francis-type
Installed capacityPicote I: 195
Picote II: 246 MW
Annual generationPicote I: 868.6
Picote II: 244 GWh

Construction of the dam began in 1953, and was completed in 1958. It is owned by Companhia Portuguesa de Produção de Electricidade (CPPE).[1] Picote Dam was the first dam constructed by Portugal on the Douro.[2]

Picote Dam is a 100 m tall (height above foundation) and 139 m long arch dam with a crest altitude of 480 m. The volume of the dam is 205,000 m3. The spillway is located on its crest and is controlled by four tainter gates. It has a maximum discharge of 11,000 m3/s (390,000 cu ft/s) while one bottom outlet can discharge up to 600 m3/s (21,000 cu ft/s).[1]

Reservoir

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At full reservoir level of 471 m, (maximum flood level of 478 m) the reservoir of the dam (Portuguese: Albufeira da Barragem de Picote) has a surface area of 2.44 km2 with a total capacity of 63 mio. m3 (active capacity 13.43 mio. m3).[1]

Power plant Picote I

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The power plant Picote I is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station with a nameplate capacity of 195 MW.[1][3][4] Its average annual generation is 868,6 (838,[2] 941,[3] or 1,038[1]) GWh. The power station contains three 65 MW Francis turbine-generators in an underground powerhouse.[2][5][6]

The minimum hydraulic head is 63 m, the maximum is 74 m. Maximum flow per turbine is 117 m3/s.[5]

The plant is owned by CPPE, but operated by EDP.[4]

Power plant Picote II

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In March 2007, construction began on the Picote II hydroelectric power plant. In December 2011, work on an additional underground powerhouse was completed and a further turbine with 246 MW went online. Its average annual generation is 244 GWh.[7]

The plant is owned by CPPE, but operated by EDP.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "PICOTE DAM". APA Barragens de Portugal. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  2. ^ a b c "DECLARAÇÃO AMBIENTAL 2012" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Energias de Portugal. p. 38 (36). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  3. ^ a b "Hidroelectricidade em Portugal memória e desafio" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Rede Eléctrica Nacional, S.A. (REN). p. 29 (27). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  4. ^ a b c "Picote Hydroelectric Power Plant Portugal". Global Energy Observatory. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  5. ^ a b "Picote Informação Técnica" (in Portuguese). Energias de Portugal. Archived from the original on 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  6. ^ "Alstom in Portugal" (PDF). Alstom. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Picote II Informação Técnica" (in Portuguese). Energias de Portugal. Archived from the original on 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2015-02-03.