Butlers Gorge Power Station
| Company type | Power station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Headquarters | Central Highlands , Australia |
| Products | Electricity |
| Owner | Hydro Tasmania |
| Parent | Hydro Tasmania |
Butlers Gorge Power Station
The Butlers Gorge Power Station is a traditional hydroelectric facility located within Tasmania's Central Highlands area. Managed and owned by Hydro Tasmania, it harnesses the Clark Dam on the Upper River Derwent to produce clean energy. Established in 1951, this power station operates with a single English Electric Francis-type turbine rated at 12.2 MW, utilizing a hydraulic head of 49 meters. It generates around 684 GWh annually, maintaining an 80% capacity utilization rate. The dam impounds Lake King William, which holds up to 539,340 ML, playing a vital role in Hydro Tasmania's comprehensive approach to sustainable electricity generation in the region.
Technical details
Serving as the initial facility in the eleven-station Derwent hydroelectric system, Butlers Gorge Power Station is positioned above ground at the foot of the concrete arched Clark Dam on the River Derwent, which forms Lake King William. The station draws water from this reservoir and incorporates two discharge control valves that regulate flow toward the downstream Tarraleah Power Station.
Commissioned by the Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS) in 1951 and officially inaugurated on 22 November 1952, the installation contains a single English Electric Francis turbine with a capacity of . Inside the powerhouse, one alternator is installed; the turbine includes a fully embedded spiral casing with water flow managed by a butterfly valve. A 125 kVA diesel generator is available to supply backup power for auxiliary services. The plant’s annual production is approximately , which is transmitted to TasNetworks' 11 kV/110 kV grid through an English Electric transformer connected to the outdoor switchyard.
Water discharged from the station travels via conduits to either the Nieterana mini-hydro facility, Tarraleah Power Station, or Wally's Weir before reentering the Derwent River.
Climate
Butlers Gorge experiences a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), closely bordering on subpolar oceanic (Cfc). Between 1957 and 1993, it recorded an average of 27 days with snowfall each year.