Tinaroo Falls Dam Hydro Power Station

The Site

The Tinaroo hydro power station has been designed to take advantage of water being released for irrigation and other purposes from Tinaroo Falls Dam, as well as spillway discharges when the dam is full.

Technology

Water normally sent down the river or main channel is instead redirected via a diversionary pipeline through the hydro power station's turbine before being redirected back into the channel or river. The hydro power station design enables SunWater to maintain water allocation security for customers as well as generating useful electricity. The power station is equipped with a GE Hydro single horizontal shafted 1.6 MW rated Francis turbine with a synchronous generator,both of which are automatically controlled on site. GE Energy Australia managed all construction, supply and installation including the generation and control equipment.

"Renewable energy sources are an important element to meeting current and future energy needs and reduced greenhouse emission targets"

"I believe the Tinaroo Mini Hydro project represents the smart use of one of our most valuable resources - water. It is used twice therefore gaining the maximum benefit from it, with detriment to other users".

Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson

Energy purchase and supply

The power station will generate sufficient electricity into the State power grid to power homes and reduce CO2 emissions by 8450 tonnes per year. This equates to taking nearly 2000 cars off the road for each year of operation.The hydro power station was due commissioned in December, however, low dam levels at that time did not allow for this take place. The Tinaroo power station is accredited for Renewable Energy Certificates Green credits. The electricity and all green credits associated with the generation of electrical energy are purchased by Ergon Energy under a long-term agreement.