The Blenheim–Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Station is a

pumped-storage hydroelectricity Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH), or pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), is a type of hydroelectric energy storage used by electric power systems for load balancing (electrical power), load balancing. A PSH system stores energy i ...

plant in the

Catskill Mountains The Catskill Mountains, also known as the Catskills, are a physiographic province and subrange of the larger Appalachian Mountains, located in southeastern New York. As a cultural and geographic region, the Catskills are generally defined a ...

New York State New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...

. The plant is part of the

New York Power Authority The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is a public benefit corporation owned by the State of New York and is the largest state public power utility in the United States. It provides some of the lowest-cost electricity in the nation, operating 16 ge ...

, and can generate over of electricity. It is used daily to cover

peak demand Peak demand on an electrical grid is the highest electrical power demand that has occurred over a specified time period (Gönen 2008). Peak demand is typically characterized as annual, daily or seasonal and has the unit of power. Peak demand, pe ...

. There are two

reservoirs A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation. Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of water, interrup ...

that are involved in the project, both with a capacity of ; one at the foot of Brown Mountain in the

Schoharie Valley The Schoharie Valley is a corridor that runs through Schoharie County from Schoharie, New York to Gilboa, New York. Geography The Schoharie Valley is made up of plains surrounding the Schoharie Creek. Within the Schoharie Valley are the towns o ...

, and another one at the top of the mountain. The

power station A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the electricity generation, generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electr ...

has an accumulated capacity of about after storing up to .U.S. Department of Energy New York Statistics
/ref> The reservoir at the foot of the mountain () was created by impounding the

Schoharie Creek Schoharie Creek is a river in New York (state), New York that flows north from the foot of Indian Head Mountain (New York), Indian Head Mountain in the Catskill Mountains, Catskills through the Schoharie Valley to the Mohawk River. It is twice ...

downstream from the village of

Gilboa, New York Gilboa is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,111 at the 2020 census. The Town of Gilboa is in the southern part of the county and is southwest of Albany. History The town was first settled around 1760 ...

. Water from this reservoir is sent through a concrete shaft up the mountain to the upper reservoir () to be stored until it is needed. When power is needed, the water is sent back down the mountain into the lower reservoir, where it enters a

power plant A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the electricity generation, generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electr ...

on the banks of the lower reservoir, and spins a series of turbines in the powerhouse. (This structure is almost completely underwater; only five feet of it can be seen above water when the reservoir is full). The water is sent back into the reservoir, flows over the

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aqua ...

that holds the reservoir back, and continues down the rest of the Schoharie Creek. The powerhouse, built in 1973, contained four Hitachi pump/turbine units. The gross head range on the units is . Between 2003 and 2010, the turbines were upgraded so that each generator/motor operates at up to approximately 318 MVA at 0.9 power factor pumping power, or as a generator. Additionally, the old 285 MVA generator step up transformers were replaced with new 17kV/345kV, 325 MVA transformers. Overall plant cycle efficiency is 73%.

Blenheim–Gilboa Visitors Center

The Blenheim-Gilboa Visitor Center is housed in a restored 18th century dairy barn, and features exhibits and interactive displays that demonstrate the science of energy and electricity, including how power is made and used. Admission to the center is free. The historic Lansing Manor House is a historic house museum adjacent to the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center, Lansing Manor House and the Power Project are located near Mine Kill State Park.

References

External links

NYPA Facilities: Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project
at the Internet Archive

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blenheim-Gilboa Hydroelectric Power Station Energy infrastructure completed in 1973 Catskills Dams in New York (state) Hydroelectric power plants in New York (state) Pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations in the United States Science museums in New York (state) Museums in Schoharie County, New York Industry museums in New York (state) Buildings and structures in Schoharie County, New York

Blenheim–Gilboa Visitors Center

See also

References

External links