The Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme (previously named Braamhoek) is a pumped-storage power station in the escarpment of the Little Drakensberg range straddling the border of the KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces, South Africa. It is about 22 km North-East of Van Reenen.

Design

The pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme consists of an upper and a lower dam 4.6 km apart and is connected to a power station by tunnels. The power station uses 4 Francis pump turbines rated at 333 MW each, giving it a total rating of 1332 MW installed capacity.

Construction

Notable contractors included CMC Impregilo Mavundla Joint Venture and Concor on the dams. The scheme was built at a cost of US$3.5 billion (R25 billion). Construction began in 2005 and the power station was scheduled to begin operations in late 2015.

Detailed breakdown

The pumped-storage hydroelectric plant uses water from the upper reservoir to generate electricity during the peak demand periods of the day. At night, excess power on the grid generated by conventional coal and nuclear plants is used to pump water to the upper reservoir.

Storage capacity

The energy storage capacity is 21,000 MWh or 15.8 generating hours.