Golden Falls hydroelectric power station
Golden Falls hydroelectric power station is a hydroelectric plant located on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. It is owned and operated by the ESB Group.
| Golden Falls hydroelectric power station | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location of Golden Falls hydroelectric power station in Ireland | |
| Coordinates | 53.12041°N 6.6081°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1943 |
| Owner(s) | ESB Group |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity |
| Height | 15 m (50 ft) |
| Length | 98 m (320 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 0.8×106 m2 (0.31 sq mi) |
| Catchment area | 312 km2 (120 sq mi) |
| Power Station | |
| Commission date | 1943 |
| Turbines | 1 |
| Installed capacity | 4 MW |
| Annual generation | 9 GWh (32 TJ) average |
Construction
The Golden Falls hydroelectric plant is located downstream of the larger Pollaphuca hydroelectric power station as part of the River Liffey Scheme. The concrete dam is 98 m (320 ft) long is fitted with three gates, each of which is 7 m (23 ft) wide. The dam has an average head of 17.4 m (57 ft).[1] The dam creates a balancing reservoir between the plant and the larger one upstream and has helped to reduce the risk of flooding in Leixlip and Dublin.[2]
Generating capacity
The plant consists of a single turbine rated at 4 MW (5,400 hp) manufactured by English Electric. It spins at 187.5 r.p.m. and feeds a 5,000 kVA English Electric three phase alternator running at 10.5 kV. The average output for the station is 9 GWh a year.[1]
Archaeological importance
The Bronze Age Bishopsland Hoard was excavated during the construction of the dam in 1942 and subsequently other archaeological finds from periods back to the Neolithic have been found in the area.[3]
References
- "River Liffey Generating Stations" (PDF). ESB Public Relations Office. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ESB Energy International (2011). "Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment ESB Dams and Embankments" (PDF). CFRAM. p. 38. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- Delaney, Shane (2016). "Bishopsland: Settlement Above the Golden Falls". Archaeology Ireland. 30 (4): 16.