The Wilmot Power Station is a conventional hydroelectric power station located in north-western Tasmania, Australia.

Wilmot Dam
Wilmot Power Station is located in Tasmania
Wilmot Power Station
Location of the Wilmot Dam in Tasmania
CountryAustralia
LocationNorth-western Tasmania
Coordinates41°28′48.5″S 146°07′22.6″E / 41.480139°S 146.122944°E / -41.480139; 146.122944
PurposePower
StatusOperational
Opening date1970 (1970)
Owner(s)Hydro Tasmania
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment dam
ImpoundsWilmot River
Height34 metres (112 ft)
Length138 metres (453 ft)
Dam volume122×10^3 m3 (4.3×10^6 cu ft)
Spillways1
Spillway typeUncontrolled
Spillway capacity1,104 m3/s (39,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesLake Gairdner
Total capacity8,820 ML (311×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area158 km2 (61 sq mi)
Surface area970 ha (2,400 acres)
Wilmot Power Station
Operator(s)Hydro Tasmania
Commission date1971 (1971)
TypeConventional
Hydraulic head241 metres (791 ft)
Turbines1 x 32 MW (43,000 hp)
Fuji Francis turbine
Installed capacity32 megawatts (43,000 hp)
Capacity factor0.9
Annual generation137 gigawatt-hours (490 TJ)
Website
hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth
[1]

Technical details

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Part of the MerseyForth run-of-river hydro scheme that comprises seven hydroelectric power stations, the Wilmot Power Station is the fourth station in the scheme. The power station is located on the foreshore of Lake Cethana. Water stored at Lake Gairdner is transferred east approximately 4.5 km (2.8 mi) to the station via a tunnel and a surface penstock. Water is then discharged from the station into Lake Cethana.[2]

The power station was commissioned in 1971 by the Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS). It has one turbine, with a generating capacity of 32 megawatts (43,000 hp) of electricity.

The station output, estimated to be 137 gigawatt-hours (490 TJ) annually,[1] is fed to TasNetworks' transmission grid via an 11 kV/220 kV Siemens generator transformer to the outdoor switchyard.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Mersey - Forth". Energy. Hydro Tasmania. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Wilmot Power Station: Technical fact sheet" (PDF). Mersey-Forth Catchment. Hydro Tasmania. Retrieved 3 July 2015.