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272:, the lower reservoir, has a storage capacity of 129,000 acre⋅ft (159,119,157 m). It is at an altitude of 6,550 ft (1,996 m). Connecting the reservoirs, from upper to lower, is first a 10,511 ft (3,204 m) long head-race tunnel which turns into a 2,248 ft (685 m) long steel
276:
which drops in elevation and splits into three individual penstocks, which each feed a separate pump-generator. After the water has passed through the generating turbines, it is discharged into the lower reservoir via a 3,797 ft (1,157 m) long tail-race tunnel. The difference in elevation
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The power plant operates by moving water between an upper and lower reservoir. When energy demand is high, water is released from the upper reservoir to the generating plant and the water is discharged into the lower reservoir. When demand is low (such as at night), water is pumped into the upper
257:
reservoir to be used as stored energy at a later time. This is accomplished by pump-generators which serve a dual role: the pumps can reverse for use as generators. The plant can go from a stand still to operational in eight minutes which allows it to meet
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261:. It consumes more electricity pumping than generating electricity but pumping occurs during periods of low demand with unused surplus energy available at lower costs from the electric grid.
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hydroelectric method to generate electricity. After being planned in the early 1970s, construction on the plant began in June 1977 and commercial operations began on 30 June 1984. It has an
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296:, also owned by PG&E, in the 1970s, when Diablo Canyon was being designed and permitted. It is connected to that power plant by a dedicated high-tension power line.
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375:"There are 2 broad categories of reservoirs, the valley reservoir and the off-river storage reservoir"
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Kermit Jr., Paul (March 1989). "Design
Features of The Helms Pumped Storage Project".
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391:. Pacific Gas and Electric Company. 17 October 2011. Archived from
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The Helms Pumped
Storage project was designed to be used with the
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Pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations in the United States
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425:(1). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: 24–25.
232:. It is a power station that uses Helms Creek canyon on the
281:(drop of the water) of 1,625 ft (495 m). The
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Buildings and structures in Fresno County, California
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List of pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations
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462:. Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Archived from
285:is near Wishon Reservoir and houses three 404 MW
389:"By the Numbers: Helms Pumped Storage Facility"
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488:"Diablo Canyon's odd cousin in the mountains"
8:
490:, October 12, 2015, San Luis Obispo Tribune
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220:is located 50 mi (80 km) east of
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504:Helms: Power from Water, Human Engineering
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18:
513:- PG&E video on the plant's operation
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383:
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169:129,000 acre⋅ft (159,119,157 m)
146:123,000 acre⋅ft (151,718,266 m)
1136:Hydroelectric power plants in California
277:between the reservoirs has an effective
1131:Energy infrastructure completed in 1984
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419:IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion
7:
236:for off-river water storage and the
1004:Imperial Solar Energy Center South
777:Big Creek No. 1, 2, 2A, 3, 4 and 8
701:Los Esteros Critical Energy Center
14:
1171:1984 establishments in California
1009:Imperial Solar Energy Center West
294:Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
1156:Pacific Gas and Electric Company
455:Yeung, Manho (17 October 2008).
336:
322:
308:
246:Pacific Gas and Electric Company
122:Pacific Gas and Electric Company
1070:Solar Energy Generating Systems
994:Desert Stateline Solar Facility
696:Huntington Beach Energy Project
681:Donald Von Raesfeld Power Plant
33:Courtright, the upper reservoir
989:Centinela Solar Energy Project
969:California Flats Solar Project
373:The Dam Truth About Reservoirs
1:
974:California Valley Solar Ranch
234:North Fork of the Kings River
1060:Ivanpah Solar Power Facility
1055:Genesis Solar Energy Project
606:Puente Hills Energy Recovery
457:"Helms Pumped Storage Plant"
244:of 1,212 MW and is owned by
1100:San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm
954:Antelope Valley Solar Ranch
1187:
1166:Underground power stations
1014:McCoy Solar Energy Project
999:Desert Sunlight Solar Farm
964:Blythe Solar Power Project
721:Russell City Energy Center
686:Gateway Generating Station
218:Helms Pumped Storage Plant
184:1,625 ft (495 m)
22:Helms Pumped Storage Plant
1024:Panoche Valley Solar Farm
979:Campo Verde Solar Project
439:10.1109/MPER.1989.4310531
283:underground power station
26:
1110:Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm
716:Moss Landing Power Plant
627:Argus Cogeneration Plant
1105:Shiloh Wind Power Plant
1095:Altamont Pass Wind Farm
1090:Alta Wind Energy Center
817:Mammoth Pool Powerhouse
344:Renewable energy portal
206:Installed capacity
102:Construction began
1161:Dams completed in 1984
1151:Sierra National Forest
984:Catalina Solar Project
862:San Francisquito No. 1
676:Alamitos Energy Center
611:Sunshine Gas Producers
230:Sierra National Forest
78:37.03694°N 118.96472°W
877:White Rock Powerhouse
706:Metcalf Energy Center
264:The upper reservoir,
199:Francis pump turbines
1065:Mojave Solar Project
1034:Springbok Solar Farm
959:Beacon Solar Project
827:New Bullards Bar Dam
812:Loon Lake Powerhouse
287:Francis pump turbine
266:Courtright Reservoir
252:Design and operation
137:Courtright Reservoir
83:37.03694; -118.96472
16:Dam in Fresno County
925:William R. Gianelli
822:Moccasin Powerhouse
787:Caribou No. 1 and 2
691:Glenarm Power Plant
431:1989ITEnC...4....9P
166:Total capacity
143:Total capacity
74: /
1019:Mount Signal Solar
802:Jaybird Powerhouse
509:2011-12-29 at the
395:on 10 October 2014
259:peak energy demand
242:installed capacity
222:Fresno, California
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837:New Exchequer Dam
832:New Don Pedro Dam
782:Camino Powerhouse
772:Belden Powerhouse
469:on 2 January 2012
316:California portal
228:Mountain Range's
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110:Opening date
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767:Balch Powerhouse
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128:Upper reservoir
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42:United States
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847:Oroville Dam
792:Devil Canyon
760:Conventional
483:
471:. Retrieved
464:the original
422:
418:
397:. Retrieved
393:the original
368:
330:Water portal
291:
263:
255:
217:
215:
872:Trinity Dam
807:Keswick Dam
648:The Geysers
97:Operational
81: /
69:118°57′53″W
57:Coordinates
1125:Categories
1029:Solar Star
920:Thermalito
867:Shasta Dam
852:Parker Dam
797:Folsom Dam
636:Geothermal
552:California
473:15 January
399:15 January
360:References
66:37°02′13″N
891:Pumped-
753:electric
667:Natural
588:Biomass
561:storage
559:Battery
507:Archived
300:See also
274:penstock
210:1,212 MW
194:3 x 404
190:Turbines
118:Owner(s)
47:Location
1048:Thermal
915:O'Neill
900:Castaic
893:storage
751:Hydro-
735:Nuclear
658:Mammoth
427:Bibcode
224:in the
156:Creates
133:Creates
39:Country
726:Valley
94:Status
938:Solar
905:Helms
467:(PDF)
460:(PDF)
1083:Wind
643:Coso
620:Coal
590:(≥10
563:(≥10
475:2012
401:2012
216:The
113:1984
105:1977
669:gas
550:in
435:doi
1127::
946:PV
592:MW
565:MW
447:^
433:.
421:.
409:^
380:^
248:.
196:MW
594:)
567:)
540:e
533:t
526:v
477:.
441:.
437::
429::
423:4
403:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
