{{Short description|Dam and hydroelectic power station in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Meadowbank Dam | name_official = | image = CSIRO ScienceImage 2816 Meadowbank Power Station.jpg | image_size = 240 | image_caption = The power station in 2010 | 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|-42.611175|146.844968|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|1966}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = {{ubl|[[Buttress dam|Buttress]]|[[Embankment dam|Embankment]]}} | dam_crosses = [[River Derwent (Tasmania)|River Derwent]] | dam_height = {{cvt|43|m}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|265|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|86|e3m3}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = [[Spillway#Types|Controlled]] | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|5239|m3/s}} | res_name = Meadowbank Lake | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|60000|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = {{cvt|59650|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{cvt|6561|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|600|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|59|m}} {{AHD}} | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Meadowbank Power Station | plant_coordinates = {{coord|42|36|36|S|146|50|24|E|type:landmark}} | plant_operator = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | plant_commission = {{start date|1967}} | plant_decommission = | plant_type = R | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|26|m}} | plant_turbines = 1 x {{cvt|41.8|MW}}<br/>{{small|Andritz [[Kaplan turbine|Kaplan-type]]}} | plant_capacity = {{cvt|43.8|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor= 0.51 | plant_annual_gen = {{cvt|187|GWh}} | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/derwent|hydro.com.au}} | extra = }}
The '''Meadowbank Dam''' is a [[buttress dam]], with a concrete-faced [[embankment dam|embankment]], across the [[Derwent River (Tasmania)|Lower River Derwent]], located in the [[Central Highlands (Tasmania)|Central Highlands]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1966 and owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]], the resultant [[reservoir]] was established for the purpose of generation of [[hydroelectricity]] via the '''Meadowbank Power Station''', a [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] hydroelectric [[power station]].
== Dam overview == Completed by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]] in 1966, the buttress dam wall is {{convert|43|m}} high and {{convert|262|m}} long; and on its right hand side, the structure has a concrete-faced embankment, both built on a rock foundation. When full, the reservoir has capacity of {{convert|60000|ML|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|600|ha}}, drawn from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|6561|km2}}. The [[Spillway#Types|controlled spillway]] has a flow capacity of {{convert|5239|m3/s}}.<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 338}}</ref>
== Hydroelectric power station == Part of the Derwent scheme that comprises eleven hydroelectric power stations, the Meadowbank Power Station is the final power station in the scheme. The aboveground power station is located near the dam wall. The facilities at the Meadowbank Power Station are simple and include the dam, intake structure with intake gate designed to cut off full flow, a short [[penstock]] which is integral with the dam, the power station building, generator equipment and associated facilities.{{r|STATS}}<ref name=hydro>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/meadowbank-power-station |title=Derwent: Meadowbank Power Station |work=Energy |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |access-date=5 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707055215/http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/meadowbank-power-station |archive-date=7 July 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
The power station was commissioned in 1967 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]] with a single Boving [[Kaplan turbine|Kaplan-type]] [[Water turbine|turbine]] with a generating capacity of {{convert|41.8|MW}} of electricity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Meadowbank_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf|title=Meadowbank Power Station: Technical fact sheet|work=Energy: Our power stations|publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]]|access-date=23 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033253/http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Meadowbank_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2015, the turbine was upgraded to a single Andritz [[Kaplan turbine|Kaplan-type]] [[Water turbine|turbine]] with a generating capacity of {{convert|43.8|MW}} of electricity.{{r|STATS}} Within the station building, the turbine has a five-bladed runner and concrete spiral casing. Pre-stressed cables passing through the stay vanes anchor the spiral casing and form part of the station foundation. No inlet valve is installed in the station. The station output, estimated to be {{convert|187|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually, is fed to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via parallel 11 k[[voltage|V]]/220 kV [[Siemens]] generator transformers to the outdoor switchyard.<ref name=STATS>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/meadowbank-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=9acc9b28_2 |title=Meadowbank Power Station: Derwent Catchment |work=Energy: Our power stations |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |access-date=23 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623025433/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/meadowbank-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=9acc9b28_2 |archive-date=23 June 2023 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
Water discharged from the Meadowbank Power Station flows into the River Derwent.<ref name=hydro/>
==2016 energy crisis== In 2016, the power station was the location of diesel generators required to supplement the power into the Tasmanian grid due to the [[2016 Tasmanian energy crisis]] and the failure of the [[Basslink]] cable.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-31/temporary-diesel-generators-unveilled-meadowbank-power-station/7287076|title=More diesel generators fired up to boost energy to Tasmania's power grid|newspaper=ABC News |date=31 March 2016}}</ref>
== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Water|Renewable energy}}}} *[[List of power stations in Tasmania]] * [[List of reservoirs and dams in Australia#Tasmania|List of reservoirs and dams in Tasmania]] * [[List of run-of-the-river hydroelectric power stations]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[[Hydro Tasmania]] page on [https://web.archive.org/web/20060919104726/http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Energy/Tasmanian+Hydro+Electric+Schemes/Catchment+Areas/Derwent+Catchment/The+Lower+Derwent.htm the Lower Derwent]
{{River Derwent Dams|state=collapsed}} {{Dams in Tasmania|state=collapsed}} {{EnergyTasmania}} {{CentralHighlandsTasmania |state=autocollapse}}
[[Category:1966 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:2016 Tasmanian energy crisis|Energy crisis, 2016]] [[Category:Buttress dams]] [[Category:Central Highlands (Tasmania)]] [[Category:Concrete-face rock-fill dams]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1966]] [[Category:Embankment dams]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1967]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]] [[Category:Run-of-the-river power stations]]