Name of the Project
Alto Tâmega hydroelectric complex.

Location
The project is located in the north of Portugal.

Client
Iberdrola.

Project Description
The Alto Tâmega project will be one of the largest projects of its kind in Europe.

The project entails the construction of the 1 158 MW Alto Tâmega hydrocomplex, as part of the Portuguese National Programme for Dams with High Hydroelectric Potential.

The project will comprise three dams in the Duero basin – Gouvães-Padroselos (880 MW), Alto Tâmega (160 MW) and Daivões (118 MW). The complex will have an installed capacity of 1 158 MW and produce more than 1 760 GW/y, and avoid the emission of 1.2-million tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Jobs to be Created
The execution of this energy infrastructure will create 3 500 direct and 10 000 indirect jobs during the construction phase.

Value
The project involves an investment of more than €1.5-billion.

Duration
The Gouvães plant is scheduled to be completed in late 2021, while the Daivões plant is expected to be completed in 2022 and the Alto Tâmega plant in June 2023.

Latest Development
A consortium headed by Ferrovial Agroman, which includes the participation of local Portuguese company MSF, has been appointed by Iberdrola to build the Gouvães hydroelectric power plant on the Tâmega river.

The project includes the construction of the main cavern, 120 m long, 20 m wide and 44 m high. It will contain four generators with a capacity of 220 MW each and a cavern for transformers measuring 80 m long, 17 m wide and 14 m high.
Ferrovial Agroman will also be in charge of the excavation work for 5 km of galleries, including eight vertical shafts, with a maximum height of 320 m and 7 m in diameter.

Meanwhile, Iberdrola has successfully completed the first of the major milestones set for the Alto Tâmega project – the excavation of the diversion tunnel to feed the Daivões hydroelectric power station.

The tunnel is about 400 m long and since work began, it has taken Iberdrola less than 100 days to excavate and shore up the tunnel.

Now that this construction phase is completed, Iberdrola will start on the inner concrete reinforcement lining and the coffer dams, which will enable the company to divert the Tâmega river so that the construction of the dam and the Daivões power plant can begin.

The Daivões power station will be served by a 77.5-m-high dam to feed two turbines, with a combined installed capacity of 114 MW and a production of 142 GWh.

There will also be an additional 4 MW turbine that will add 17 GWh to the power station’s output.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Ferrovial Agroman and MSF (construction of the Gouvães-Padroselos).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Iberdrola, tel +34 944 151 411 or fax +34 944 663 194.