{{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Paloona Dam | name_official = | image = Paloona Power Station.jpg | image_size = 240 | image_caption = The power station located below the dam wall | image_alt = | location_map = Australia Tasmania | location_map_size = 240 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in [[Tasmania]] | location_map_alt = | coordinates = {{coord|-41.28312|146.248616|region:AU-TAS_type:landmark|display=it|format=dms}} | country = Australia | location = [[North West Tasmania|Northern]] [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = | opening = {{start date|1971}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = H | dam_crosses = [[Forth River (Tasmania)|Forth River]] | dam_height = {{cvt|43|m}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|171|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|155|e3m3}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = [[Spillway#Types|Uncontrolled side channel]] | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|2040|m3/s}} | res_name = Lake Paloona | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|19110|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{cvt|759|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|17.8|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|47|m}} {{AHD}} | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Paloona Power Station | plant_coordinates = {{coord|41|16|59|S|146|14|56|E|type:landmark}} | plant_operator = Hydro Tasmania | plant_commission = {{start date|1972}} | plant_decommission = | plant_type = R | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|31|m}} | plant_turbines = 1 x {{cvt|30|MW}}<br />Andritz [[Kaplan turbine|Kaplan-type]] | plant_capacity = {{cvt|30|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor= 0.8 | plant_annual_gen = {{cvt|151|GWh}} | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth|hydro.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/> }}
The '''Paloona Dam''' is a concrete-faced rock-fill [[embankment dam]] across the [[Forth River (Tasmania)|Forth River]], located in [[North West Tasmania|northern]] [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1971, the resultant [[reservoir]], Lake Paloona, was established for the purpose of generation of [[hydroelectricity]] via the adjacent '''Paloona Power Station''', a [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] hydroelectric [[power station]].
The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]].
== Dam and reservoir overview == The concrete-face [[rockfill dam]] wall is {{convert|43|m}} high and {{convert|171|m}} long. When full, Lake Paloona has capacity of {{convert|19100|ML|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|178|ha}}, drawn from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|759|km2}}. The [[Spillway#Types|uncontrolled spillway]] has a flow capacity of {{convert|2040|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 394}}</ref>
== Hydroelectric power station == The Paloona Power Station is part of the [[Mersey River (Tasmania)|Mersey]]{{endash}}Forth scheme that comprises seven [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] hydroelectric power stations and one [[mini-hydro]] power station. The final station in the scheme, the Paloona Power Station is located immediately below the dam wall. Water from Lake Paloona is fed to the power station by a short single [[penstock]] under the dam.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Energy: Mersey-Forth |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=n.d. |access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref>
The power station was commissioned in 1972 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]] with a [[Fuji Heavy Industries|Fuji]] [[Kaplan turbine|Kaplan-type]] [[water turbine|turbine]], with a generating capacity of {{convert|30|MW}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Paloona_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |title=Paloona Power Station: Mersey-Forth Catchment |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |access-date=24 June 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033306/http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Paloona_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2014 the turbine was upgraded to a more efficient Andritz Kaplan-type turbine, which also has a generating capacity of {{convert|30|MW}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/paloona-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=92cc9b28_2 |title=Paloona Power Station: Mersey-Forth Catchment |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |access-date=24 June 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624054620/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/paloona-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=92cc9b28_2 |archive-date=24 June 2023 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The station output, estimated to be {{convert|151|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually,<ref name=ANCOLD/> is fed to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via an 11 k[[voltage|V]]/110 kV [[Siemens]] generator transformer to the outdoor switchyard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energytoday.com.au/contentid74.html |title=Principal power stations in Australia |work=Energy Business Today |access-date=8 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803123503/http://www.energytoday.com.au/contentid74.html |archive-date=3 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Renewable energy|Water}}}} * [[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 == * {{cite web |url=https://glencoecountry.com.au/dams-in-tasmania/ |title=Dams in Tasmania: Hydroelectric & man-made lakes near Glencoe B&B |work=Glen Country |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-23 }} * {{cite web |url=https://www.waterwaysguide.org.au/content/lake-paloona-dam-forth-rv-h |title=Lake Paloona Dam (Forth Rv) (H) |work=Waterways Guide |date=2026 |access-date=2026-04-23 }} * {{cite web |url=https://northwesttasmania.com.au/things-to-do/fishing-in-kentish/ |title=Fishing in Ketish |work=North West Tasmania |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-23 }}
{{Dams in Tasmania|state=collapsed}} {{EnergyTasmania}}
[[Category:1971 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Concrete-face rock-fill dams]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1971]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1972]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Northern Tasmania]] [[Category:Run-of-the-river power stations]]