Liapootah Dam

{{Short description|Dam and hydroelectric power station in Central Highlands, Tasmania}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Liapootah Dam | name_official = | image = CSIRO ScienceImage 2964 Liapotah Hydroelectric Power Station turbines.jpg | image_size = 240 | image_caption = The power station turbines in 2000 | image_alt = | location_map = Australia Tasmania | location_map_size = 240 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in [[Tasmania]] | location_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|42.318166|S|146.472436|E|region:AU-TAS_type:landmark|display=it|format=dms}} | country = Australia | location = [[Central Highlands (Tasmania)|Central Highlands]] [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = | opening = {{start date|1960}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = G | dam_crosses = [[Nive River (Tasmania)|Nive River]] | dam_height = {{cvt|40|m}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|110|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|37|e3m3}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = [[Spillway#Types|Controlled crest drum gate]] | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|2405|m3/s}} | res_name = Lake Liapootah | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|1880|ML}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{cvt|1227|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|21|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Liapootah Power Station | plant_coordinates = {{coord|42|18|36|S|146|28|12|E|type:landmark}} | plant_operator = Hydro Tasmania | plant_commission = {{start date|1960}} | plant_decommission = | plant_type = R | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|103|m}} | plant_turbines = 3 x {{cvt|29.1|MW}}<br />{{small|([[English Electric]] [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]])}} | plant_capacity = {{cvt|87.3|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor= 0.9 | plant_annual_gen = {{cvt|440|GWh}} | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/liapootah|hydro.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD>{{cite web |title=Register of Large Dams Australia-2015 |date=January 2022 |access-date=2026-03-05 |url=https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/ |work=[[ANCOLD]] |format=[[Microsoft Excel|Excel]]. Requires download. Row 294}}</ref> }}

The '''Liapootah Dam''' is a [[gravity dam]] across the Nive River, located in the [[Central Highlands (Tasmania)|Central Highlands]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1960, the dam was built by [[Hydro Tasmania]] for the purpose of generating [[hydroelectricity]]. The resultant [[reservoir]], Lake Liapootah, provides water for the '''Liapootah Power Station''', a [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] hydroelectric [[power station]].<ref name=hydrotech/>

== Dam overview == The concrete gravity dam wall is {{convert|40|m}} high and {{convert|110|m}} long. When full, the reservoir has capacity for {{convert|1880|ML|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|21|ha}}, drawn from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|1227|km2}}. The [[Spillway#Types|controlled spillway]] has a flow capacity of {{convert|2405|m3/s}}. Water from the Derwent below the [[Tarraleah Power Station|Tarraleah]] and [[Tungatinah Power Station|Tungatinah]] power stations is diverted through a {{convert|6.6|km|adj=on}} concrete lined tunnel.<ref name=ANCOLD/>

== Hydroelectric power station == Part of the [[Derwent River (Tasmania)|Derwent River]] scheme that comprises eleven hydroelectric power stations, the Liapootah Power Station is the first power station in the lower run-of-river system. The power station is located above ground, below Lake Liapootah.

Lake Liapootah is very narrow and is considered a run-of-the-river storage. During high inflow events the pond level can threaten the Tarraleah Power Station upstream. The drum gate is designed to lower automatically and maintain a maximum pond level below the flood level of Tarraleah station. Having the drum gate installed maximises the head at Liapootah station. The alternative to this would have been to build the dam at a lower level, thus reducing the available output from Liapootah station.<ref name=hydrotech/><ref name=hydro>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/liapootah-power-station |title=Derwent: Liapootah Power Station |work=Energy |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |accessdate=5 July 2015 |archive-date=7 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707023226/http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/liapootah-power-station |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The power station was commissioned in 1960 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]] and the station has three {{convert|29.1|MW|adj=on}} [[English Electric]] [[Francis turbine|Francis]] [[Water turbine|turbines]], with a combined generating capacity of {{convert|87.3|MW}} of electricity.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} Within the station building, each turbine has a fully embedded spiral casing and water flow is controlled by a spherical rotary main inlet valve and a turbine relief valve designed to prevent spiral casing overpressure. The station output, estimated to be {{convert|440|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually,<ref name=ANCOLD/> is fed to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via three banks of 11 k[[voltage|V]]/220 kV three-phase English Electric generator transformers to the outdoor switchyard.<ref name=hydrotech>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/liapootah-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=81cc9b28_2 |title=Liapootah Power Station Fact Sheet: Technical fact sheet |work=Energy: Our power stations |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |access-date=18 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618035317/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/liapootah-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=81cc9b28_2 |archive-date=18 June 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Renewable energy|Australia|Water}}}} * [[List of reservoirs and dams in Australia#Tasmania|List of reservoirs and dams in Tasmania]] * [[List of power stations in Tasmania]] * [[List of run-of-the-river hydroelectric power stations]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[[Hydro Tasmania]] page on [https://www.hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/derwent the Derwent hydropower scheme]

[[Category:1960 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Central Highlands (Tasmania)]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1960]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1960]] [[Category:Gravity dams]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]] [[Category:Run-of-the-river power stations]]