Ilısu Dam
The Ilısu Dam (Turkish pronunciation: [ɯɫɯˈsu]) is a concrete-face rock-fill dam on the Tigris near the village of Ilısu and along the border of Mardin and Şırnak Provinces in Turkey. It is one of the 22 dams of the Southeastern Anatolia Project and its purpose is hydroelectric power production, flood control and water storage. When operational, the dam will support a 1,200 MW power station and will form a 10.4 billion m3 reservoir. Construction of the dam began in 2006 and was originally expected to be completed by 2016. As part of the project, the much smaller Cizre Dam is to be constructed downstream for irrigation and power. The dam has drawn international controversy, because it will flood portions of ancient Hasankeyf and necessitate the relocation of people living in the region. Because of this, the dam lost international funding in 2008. Most historical structures in Hasankeyf were moved to the new Hasankeyf prior to the filling of the dam. The dam began to fill its reservoir in late July 2019. Due to rainfall, the dam has achieved water levels up to 100m above the river bed and stored 5 billion cubic meters of water. The water level had reached an elevation of 498.2m on 1 April 2020.
| Ilısu Dam | |
|---|---|
Model of the dam | |
Location of Ilısu Dam in Turkey | |
| Official name | Ilısu Baraji |
| Country | Turkey |
| Location | Dargeçit, Mardin Province, Turkey |
| Coordinates | 37°31′48″N 41°51′00″E |
| Purpose | Power Flood control Irrigation |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 5 August 2006 |
| Opening date | February 2018 |
| Construction cost | US$1.7 billion |
| Owner(s) | State Hydraulic Works |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment, concrete-face rock-fill |
| Impounds | Tigris |
| Height (thalweg) | 135 m (443 ft) |
| Length | 1,820 m (5,971 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 530 m (1,739 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Width (base) | 610 m (2,001 ft) |
| Dam volume | 43,800,000 m3 (35,509 acre⋅ft) |
| Spillway type | Service overflow, controlled-chute |
| Spillway capacity | 18,000 m3/s (635,664 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Ilısu Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 10,410,000,000 m3 (8,440,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Active capacity | 7,460,000,000 m3 (6,050,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Inactive capacity | 2,950,000,000 m3 (2,390,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 35,517 km2 (13,713 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 313 km2 (121 sq mi) |
| Maximum length | 244 km (152 mi) (combined) |
| Maximum water depth | 126.8 m (416 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 525 m (1,722 ft) |
| Power Station | |
| Commission date | 19 May 2020 (1st unit) Winter 2020–2021 (complete facility) |
| Hydraulic head | 122.6 m (402 ft) (gross) |
| Turbines | 6 x 200 MW Francis-type |
| Installed capacity | 1,200 MW |
| Annual generation | 3,833 GWh (est.) |
| Website ilisuprojesi | |
DSI has started testing 2 turbines for energy production after completing the spillway testing. The dam reservoir has attained a water volume of 7.6 billion cubic meters. Water storage crest level was 513m on 19 April 2020. It would need 12m rise to achieve the maximum storage level.
The first of six generators was commissioned on 19 May 2020, while its power plant is scheduled to reach full capacity by the end of 2020. Three hydro-turbines have been commissioned since 19 June 2020 and the remaining three are being tested. So far the dam has contributed 51M$ energy towards economy.