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Qorlortorsuaq Dam

Coordinates: 60°46′45.90″N 45°14′27.27″W / 60.7794167°N 45.2409083°W / 60.7794167; -45.2409083
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Qorlortorsuaq Dam
Qorlortorsuaq Dam is located in Greenland
Qorlortorsuaq Dam
Location of Qorlortorsuaq Dam in Greenland
CountryGreenland
Coordinates60°46′45.90″N 45°14′27.27″W / 60.7794167°N 45.2409083°W / 60.7794167; -45.2409083
StatusOperational
Construction began2003
Opening date2007
Owner(s)Nukissiorfiit
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity
Height15 m (49 ft)
Length80 m (262 ft)
Spillway capacity3.9 m3/s (138 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity108,000,000 m3 (88,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface area2.4–5.1 km2 (0.9–2.0 sq mi)
Coordinates60°46′33.98″N 45°14′13.19″W / 60.7761056°N 45.2369972°W / 60.7761056; -45.2369972
Operator(s)Landsvirkjun
Turbines2 x 3.8 MW
Installed capacity7.6 MW
Capacity factor41%
Annual generation27.5 GWh

Qorlortorsuaq Dam is a hydroelectric dam near Qorlortorsuaq in the Nanortalik district of the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. It has a capacity of 7.6 MW and it generates power for the neighbouring towns of Qaqortoq and Narsaq.

History

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The construction of the power plant started in December 2003 and was completed in October 2007.[1] It was built by consortium of E. Pihl & Son AS (51%), YIT (34%), and Landsvirkjun (15%). Landsvirkjun operates the power plant until 2012, when operation will be transferred to the Kujalleq municipality.[2] The design and engineering was performed by Icelandic companies Verkís and Efla.[3]

Description

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Qorlortorsuaq Dam is a concrete gravity dam with height of 15 metres (49 ft) and crest length of 80 metres (260 ft). It creates a reservoir with a capacity of 108 million cubic meters.[4] Its tunnel length is 245 metres (804 ft) and pressure pipe is 245 metres (804 ft).[1] The flow rate is 3.9 cubic metres per second (140 cu ft/s).[3]

The power plant has two horizontal axis 3.8 MW Francis turbines manufactured by Kössler for a total installed capacity of 7.6 MW. Its annual generation is 27.5 GWh.[4][5] A crew of four maintains the power plant.

Together with the power plant a 70 kilometres (43 mi) long high voltage (70 kV) line to Qaqortoq and Narsaq was erected.[4][6] It crosses over the Igaliko Fjord, a more than 2 km long span, between these two pylons: 60°48′45″N 45°39′42″W / 60.812446°N 45.661606°W / 60.812446; -45.661606 (Pylon 1) and 60°46′41″N 45°35′43″W / 60.777958°N 45.595286°W / 60.777958; -45.595286 (Pylon 2).

Green Power program

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The hydropower plant is part of the plan of the Greenland Home Rule government to replace fossil fuelled energy production and storage with sustainable power production.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Hydro Power Plant Qorlortorsuaq, Greenland" (PDF). ÍSTAK Ltd. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  2. ^ "Ny stor spændende ordre: Vandkraftværk Qorlortorsuaq, Grønland" [New large exciting order: Qorlortorsuaq Hydroelectric Plant, Greenland] (Press release) (in Danish). YIT Denmark. 2004-01-06. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  3. ^ a b "Qorlortorsuaq — Hydroelectric Project". Verkís. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  4. ^ a b c "Small Hydroelectric, Qorlortorsuaq". Mannvit Engineering. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  5. ^ "Qorlortorsuaq hydropower plant". verkis.com. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
  6. ^ "Flight Information". Narsarsuaq Airport. Retrieved 2013-05-31. Caution. Powerlines has been established.
  7. ^ "Greenland opens hydrogen plant for renewable energy storage". Renewable Energy Focus. Retrieved 2011-02-15.