Paute Dam

Dam in Paute, Ecuador
02°35′10″S 78°33′30″W / 2.58611°S 78.55833°W / -2.58611; -78.55833Construction began1976Opening date1983Operator(s)CELECDam and spillwaysType of damArch-gravity damImpoundsPaute RiverLength420 m (1,380 ft)Dam volume1,188,219 m3 (1,554,132 cu yd)Spillway typeGate-controlled overflowSpillway capacity7,724 m3/s (272,800 cu ft/s)ReservoirCreatesPaute ReservoirTotal capacity120×10^6 m3 (97,000 acre⋅ft)Active capacity100×10^6 m3 (81,000 acre⋅ft)Power StationCommission datePhase AB: 1983
Phase C: 1991Hydraulic headPhase AB: 650 m (2,130 ft)
Phase C: 657 m (2,156 ft)TurbinesPhase AB: 5 x 100 MW (130,000 hp) Pelton-type
Phase C: 5 x 115 MW (154,000 hp) Pelton-typeInstalled capacity1,075 MW (1,442,000 hp)[1]

The Paute Dam, also known as the Daniel Palacios Dam and the Amaluza Dam, is a hydroelectric dam in Ecuador. It is located on the Paute River, 125 kilometres (78 mi) from Cuenca. After the privatization of power generation that began in 1996 under the government of Sixto Durán Ballén, the dam passed into the hands of the company Hidropaute SA and then returned to state ownership during the government of Rafael Correa when Hidropaute became part of the Ecuador Electricity Corporation (Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador, CELEC).

Paute was constructed between 1976 and 1983 by Thyssenkrupp AG on the Paute River and designed on the premise that it would be erected downstream of the Mazar Dam. The Paute Dam's supports the 1,075 megawatts (1,442,000 hp) Molina Power Station. In late 2009, low water levels at the dam were the primary cause of an electricity crisis in Ecuador.

See also

  • flagEcuador portal
  • iconWater portal
  • iconRenewable energy portal

Notes

  1. ^ "Introducción". Archived from the original on 2013-04-20. Retrieved 2013-03-12.

External links

  • History of the Paute Dam (in Spanish)