| Gordon Dam | |
|---|---|
 Shaft connecting the third turbine to the rotor. The bearing at the top supports the load of the shaft and turbine, the bottom bearing is primarily for alignment. | |
  Location of the Gordon Dam in Tasmania | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | South West Tasmania |
| Coordinates | 42°43′50″S 145°58′35″E / 42.73056°S 145.97639°E |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1974 |
| Opening date | 1978 |
| Owner(s) | Hydro Tasmania |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Arch dam |
| Impounds | Gordon River |
| Height | 140 m (459 ft) |
| Length | 198 m (650 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 2.75 m (9 ft) |
| Width (base) | 17.7 m (58 ft) |
| Dam volume | 154×103 m3 (5×106 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Controlled |
| Spillway capacity | 175 m3/s (6,180 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Gordon |
| Total capacity | 12.4 km3 (3.0 cu mi) |
| Catchment area | 1,280 km2 (494 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 278 km2 (107 sq mi) |
| Gordon Power Station | |
| Coordinates | 42°43′48″S 145°58′12″E / 42.73000°S 145.97000°E |
| Operator(s) | Hydro Tasmania |
| Commission date | 1978; 1988 |
| Type | Conventional |
| Turbines | 3 Fuji x 144 MW (193,107 hp) |
| Installed capacity | 432 to 450 MW (579,322 to 603,460 hp) |
| Capacity factor | 0.37 |
| Annual generation | 1,388 GWh (4,997 TJ) |
| Website hydro | |
| [1] | |
The Gordon Power Station is the largest conventional hydroelectric power station in Tasmania, Australia; located in the South West region of the state. The power station is situated on Gordon River. Water from Lake Gordon descends 183 metres (600 ft) underground past the Gordon Dam and into the power station.
The Gordon Power Station system comprises three 144-megawatt (193,000 hp) Francis-type turbines that have a combined generating capacity of 432 megawatts (579,000 hp) of electricity,[2] covering about 13% of the electricity demand of Tasmania.[3] The first two turbines were commissioned in 1978, before the third was commissioned a decade later in 1988.[4]
The power station is fuelled by water from Lake Gordon. Water from Lake Pedder is also drawn into Lake Gordon through the McPartlans Pass Canal.
The station output is fed from each machine by 18 kV aluminium busbars to the surface switchyard then passes through three 18/220 kV power transformers and 220 kV outdoor switchgear to TasNetworks' transmission grid. The switchyard also houses 22 kV apparatus used for power supply to the station and to the local community.[2] The annual output is estimated to be 1,388 gigawatt-hours (5,000 TJ).[1]
Due to drought, the BassLink power feed failure and Tasmanian energy needs, in early 2016, the water levels in Lake Gordon were at the lowest ever recorded (55 meters below capacity).[5] By January 2017 they had recovered 17 meters to 28 meters below capacity. Four years later, in June 2021, the water level had increased only 3 meters to -25 meters. Between June 2021 and June 2023, the water level decreased 4 metres to 29 meters below capacity.[6]
