Western Australia’s hydro-electric plants:

The first hydro-electric generating system in Western Australia began operating in Pemberton in the mid-1930s. It was a small 55 kilowatt hydro-electric plant and it ceased operating in Pemberton many years ago. A larger hydro-electric power station is commissioned at Wellington Dam near Collie in 1956.

Above - the Wellington Dam hydro-electric turbine.

Google Earth - Wellington Dam

Even so, its generating capacity was still very small (only 2MW compared to Verve Energy's neighbouring 1,040MW coal-fired facility, Muja Power Station). The Wellington Dam plant was used to generate electricity for the interconnected grid system on a seasonal basis, during the months of November to April when there was a high discharge of water. The Wellington Dam hydro-electric station still works but only generates electricity when the water level in the dam is high enough and this is not very often. The station is virtually redundant now.

Western Australia’s main hydro-electric power station is located along the Ord River in the east Kimberley region. The Ord River hydro-electric power station is the largest contributor to renewable energy electricity generation in Western Australia. This power station was first envisaged in 1963. However, due to various difficulties with the agricultural development of the region, the construction of the power station was left until 30 years later.

Above - The Ord River dam and hydro-electricity- with Lake Argyle behind.

Google Earth - Lake Argyle

The project became the nation’s biggest non-government renewable energy project and it commenced operations in 1997. It is based on the huge amount of energy provided by the damming of the Ord River, which formed Lake Argyle in 1972. Lake Argyle holds up to 18 times the volume of water in Sydney Harbour and it has a catchment area of more than 46,000 square kilometres.

The 30MW power station was constructed by Pacific Hydro Limited and Lend Lease Development Capital Limited. It is estimated to produce some 210 gigawatt hours (GWhr) of electricity per year. This is enough to power 40,000 homes. The Ord River Hydro Project provides electricity to Argyle Diamond Mine and the nearby towns of Wyndham and Kununurra. It is estimated that the power station saves about 190,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

For more information about the Ord River hydro-electric power station, go to:
http://www.pacifichydro.com.au/

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