Reece Power Station
| Company type | Hydroelectric power station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Hydro Tasmania |
| Headquarters | West Coast, Tasmania , Australia |
| Products | Electricity generation |
| Owner | Hydro Tasmania |
| Parent | Hydro Tasmania |
Reece Power Station
Located in Tasmania's West Coast area, the Reece Power Station is a traditional hydroelectric facility. It is owned and managed by Hydro Tasmania and became operational in 1987, following construction that started in 1974. This power station utilizes the flow of the Pieman River through the Reece Dam, an earthfill dam standing 122 meters tall and stretching 374 meters in length.
The dam impounds Lake Pieman, which holds up to 300,200 megaliters of water and drains a catchment spanning 2,653 square kilometers. Equipped with two Fuji Francis turbines, the station has a total generating capacity of 238 MW and produces around 1,025 GWh annually, running at an 85% capacity factor. A hydraulic head of 92 meters is employed to maximize energy generation.
As a component of Hydro Tasmania’s assets, the Reece Power Station plays a vital role in supplying renewable energy to the region and advancing Tasmania’s clean energy goals.
Technical details
The Reece Power Station is part of the Pieman River hydroelectric system, which consists of four power stations. It is the last station before water is released into the ocean. Positioned above ground at the base of the rock-filled concrete-faced Reece Dam (also known as Lower Pieman Dam), which forms Lake Pieman, it receives water via two separate tunnels.
Commissioned between 1986 and 1987 by the Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS), this facility contains two Fuji Francis turbines with a combined output capacity of . The plant generates approximately annually and supplies electricity to the TasNetworks grid through a Fuji generator transformer that steps voltage from 13.8 kV to 220 kV, connected to an outdoor switchyard.
Etymology
The naming of both the power station and dam honors Eric Reece, who served as Premier of Tasmania during 1958–1969 and again from 1972–1975. He was a prominent supporter of the Hydro-Electric Commission and hydroelectric power development within Tasmania.