Driekloof Dam
Encyclopedia
Driekloof Dam is a small section of the Sterkfontein Dam
, Free State
, South Africa
. A section of the Sterkfontein Dam reservoir is isolated after the construction of Driekloof Dam, this small reservoir has a capacity of 35600000 cubic metres (1,257,202,117.2 cu ft)., together with the Kilburn Dam
almost 500 meters lower, Driekloof forms part of Eskom
's Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme
and Tugela-Vaal Water Project, and provides for up to 27.6GWh of electricity storage in the form of 275000000 cubic metres (9,711,533,208.5 cu ft) of water. The water is pumped to Driekloof during times of low national power consumption (generally over weekends) and released back into Kilburn through four 250 MW turbine generators in times of high electricity demand.
The scheme is operated in such a way that there is a net pumping of up to 631000000 cubic metres (22,283,554,380.2 cu ft)/annum depending upon the water availability in the Tugela catchment (Woodstock Dam
) as well as the need for augmentation in the Vaal Dam
catchment.
The Driekloof Dam was commissioned in 1979, has a capacity of 32071 cubic metres (1,132,576.7 cu ft), and a surface area of 1.906 square kilometre (0.735910714277372 sq mi), the Dam wall is 47 metres (154.2 ft) high.
Sterkfontein Dam
The Sterkfontein Dam, located just outside the town of Harrismith, in the Free State, province of South Africa, is part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Project, and located on the Nuwejaarspruit, in the upper catchment area of the Vaal River...
, Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. A section of the Sterkfontein Dam reservoir is isolated after the construction of Driekloof Dam, this small reservoir has a capacity of 35600000 cubic metres (1,257,202,117.2 cu ft)., together with the Kilburn Dam
Kilburn Dam
The Kilburn Dam, part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Project and Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme, is located lower than the Sterkfontein Dam, on the Mnjaneni River, near Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, province of South Africa...
almost 500 meters lower, Driekloof forms part of Eskom
Eskom
Eskom is a South African electricity public utility, established in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission by the government of South Africa in terms of the Electricity Act . It was also known by its Afrikaans name Elektrisiteitsvoorsieningskommissie . The two acronyms were combined in 1986 and...
's Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme
Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme
Construction on the Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme started in 1974 and was completed by 1981.Four dams are involved in the scheme; the Driekloof Dam , the Kilburn Dam, the Woodstock Dam and the Driel Barrage. Electricity generation equipment is located between Driekloof Dam and Kilburn Dam...
and Tugela-Vaal Water Project, and provides for up to 27.6GWh of electricity storage in the form of 275000000 cubic metres (9,711,533,208.5 cu ft) of water. The water is pumped to Driekloof during times of low national power consumption (generally over weekends) and released back into Kilburn through four 250 MW turbine generators in times of high electricity demand.
The scheme is operated in such a way that there is a net pumping of up to 631000000 cubic metres (22,283,554,380.2 cu ft)/annum depending upon the water availability in the Tugela catchment (Woodstock Dam
Woodstock Dam
Woodstock Dam is located on the upper reaches of the Tugela, KwaZulu-Natal, province South Africa and is the main source of water for the Thukela-Vaal Transfer Scheme....
) as well as the need for augmentation in the Vaal Dam
Vaal dam
The Vaal Dam in South Africa was constructed in 1938 and lies 77 km south of OR Tambo International Airport Formerly Jan Smuts Airport, then renamed Johannesburg International Airport in 1994, before being renamed yet again on 27th October 2006 as ORT. The lake behind the dam wall has a...
catchment.
The Driekloof Dam was commissioned in 1979, has a capacity of 32071 cubic metres (1,132,576.7 cu ft), and a surface area of 1.906 square kilometre (0.735910714277372 sq mi), the Dam wall is 47 metres (154.2 ft) high.
See also
- Kilburn DamKilburn DamThe Kilburn Dam, part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Project and Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme, is located lower than the Sterkfontein Dam, on the Mnjaneni River, near Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, province of South Africa...
- Woodstock DamWoodstock DamWoodstock Dam is located on the upper reaches of the Tugela, KwaZulu-Natal, province South Africa and is the main source of water for the Thukela-Vaal Transfer Scheme....
- Sterkfontein DamSterkfontein DamThe Sterkfontein Dam, located just outside the town of Harrismith, in the Free State, province of South Africa, is part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Project, and located on the Nuwejaarspruit, in the upper catchment area of the Vaal River...
- Spioenkop DamSpioenkop DamSpioenkop Dam impounds the Tugela River in KwaZulu-Natal. It is located within a nature reserve by the same name. The dam was commissioned in 1973, has a capacity of , and a surface area of , the dam wall is high....
- Vaal DamVaal damThe Vaal Dam in South Africa was constructed in 1938 and lies 77 km south of OR Tambo International Airport Formerly Jan Smuts Airport, then renamed Johannesburg International Airport in 1994, before being renamed yet again on 27th October 2006 as ORT. The lake behind the dam wall has a...