river lee hydro-electric scheme - infosheet

8/10/2019 River Lee Hydro-Electric Scheme - Infosheet

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The powerstationsThe rwo ESB generating stations on the Lee have a combinedcapacityof 27 megawatts and produce almost80 millionunis ofelectricitye year. AtCarrigadrohidthere is one generating unitwitha capcity of 8 megawarts andat lnniscarrathere ene two:rhe larger witha capacity of 15 megawatts and the smallerwithacapaciry of 4 megawatts.

The generatingplant in thestations is comprisedof two verticalshiftKaplan turbogenerators at lnniscarrwhichoperate under anaverage head of 30 metres. AtCarrigadrohida similarunitoperates under an averate head of l3 metres. Power is generatedar 10.5 kilovoltsand transformedup to 38 kilovoltsfor localdistributionand to I l0 kilovoltsfor longdistance transmission.

The localenvronmentThe lakes at lnniscarraandCarrigadrohidare environmenullybenefcialto the region.not onlyfromascenic pointof view.but also becausethey created new opportunitiesforrecreationssuch as boating,angling.walkingand for the provisionollakeside park.

ApproximatelyI milliongallonsofwaterper day are taken fromthereservoir to serve the CorkCityandCounrywater supplyscheme.This canbe increased to 50 milliongallons perday in hefutureifit is required.

There is a fish hatchery etCarrig3drohdwhere over one millionsalmon smoltsare reared each year.These go to stock many lrishrivensandlakes but over100,000 are releasedintothe RiverLee, belowthe dams.They go intothe sea forsome years but

ren rn to the RiverLee to sprwn,sustaining the stocks in the riverbothfor the commercial fishermanand theanglers.

The Borlandqrpe fish passes in thedams ensure that the fish cenmoveeasily up and down the river.Theupper portionof the lake atCarrigSdrohidis an area known as theGearagh. lt is probablythe onlyalluvialforest in Western Europe. lt wesformedat the end of the last ice agewhen thd ice cap that covered lrelandfor thousands. of years melted andanew riverf,oweddown to the seadepositingrichsoil and rock fragmenawhichprovidedfor lush growthexistingto this day.

This area, whichis owned byESB,wasdeclared a nature reserve in 1987under the 1976 WildlifeAcln WinterluP tothere.

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lnniscarro Power Stotion

CarrigodrohidPter Station

5,000 wildbirds ake refuge


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river lee hydro-electric scheme - infosheet

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