Cerros Colorados Complex
| Company type | Public utility (privatized) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hydroelectric power |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Neuquén , Argentina |
| Products | Electricity |
| Parent | Duke Energy (since 2000) |
The Cerros Colorados Complex consists of a series of dams and hydroelectric power installations situated within the lower valley of the Neuquén River, located in Neuquén, Argentina.
Overview
The initial phase of construction commenced in 1969, and the first turbine became operational by 1978. The entire complex was formally opened on 31 October 1980. In 1993, the facility underwent privatization through a concession granted to Hidroeléctrica Cerros Colorados S.A. Later, in 2000, Duke Energy took ownership of Cerros Colorados as well as the Alto Valle thermal power plant.
Cerros Colorados is integrated into the broader El Chocón-Cerros Colorados Complex, which also encompasses the El Chocón Dam and its hydroelectric station located upstream on the Limay River.
Constituent works
The complex includes four dams: Portezuelo Grande, Loma de la Lata, Planicie Banderita, and El Chañar. It takes advantage of two naturally deep depressions known as Los Barreales and Mari Menuco.
Water from the Portezuelo Grande Dam is diverted toward Los Barreales Lake, except for quantities allocated for irrigation, municipal consumption, and environmental requirements. From Los Barreales, water is channeled to Mari Menuco through a passage regulated by Loma de la Lata Dam. The water surface at Mari Menuco is maintained at a level roughly above the river near Planicie Banderita.
The Planicie Banderita hydroelectric station operates with two Siemens vertical-axis Francis turbine generators, each with a capacity of , collectively producing around annually. Electricity generated here is transmitted at 500 kV into Argentina’s National Interconnection System, with discharged water returned back to the river.
Downstream by approximately , river flow is managed by the El Chañar check dam.
References
- Duke Energy Argentina. Generación, Complejo Cerros Colorados.
- Argentour. Río Limay
- Secretaría de Energía. República Argentina. Complejo Cerros Colorados.