Hydroelectrical Central and Pumping Station of Calheta

This unit, designed for the company Electricidade da Madeira, has a generation capacity of 30 MWe.

The project envisages the optimization of the operation of the electrical network of the island, combining the wind electrical generation with the hydroelectrical generation.

• In hours of low energy demand the wind turbines supply energy to the pumping station.
• In hours of huge demand the hydroelectrical station supplies energy to the network.

The systemis formed by the following infrastructures:

• Upper Reservoir (Dam of Pico da Urze) with a volume of the basin of 1.000.000 m³;
  DIN 1500 conduct, with 3342 m of length and 700m of fall height;
• Hydroelectrical central and Pumping Station with two Pelton turbines, of 15 MW each, and three main pumps with electrical motors of 5 MW, 6 kV and frequency variator. The primary pumps are of 1 MW.
• Primary Station, in the body of the Lower Dam;
• Main Station, in the same building as the hydroelectrical .
• Internal Reservoir (Calheta dam) with a volume of 67 000 m^3.