Hydropower plant of Picote.

Completed in 1958, Picote was the first dam constructed by Portugal on the Douro river. The run-of-the-river power station is situated around 21 km downstream from Miranda hydropower plant and around 25 km upper stream from Bemposta.

Located in the municipality Miranda do Douro, Picote was originally composed of three Francis turbines with a capacity of 64 MW each, totalizing a net installed capacity of 192 MW. In March 2007, the extension of the station began. In December 2011, Picote II hydroelectric power plant was commissioned, including an additional underground powerhouse equipped with a new 241 MW turbine. Today the power station has a total net capacity of 433 MW.

The concrete arch dam is 100 meters high and has a crest length of 139 meters.

The reservoir has an effective storage capacity of 13 million cubic meters of water.

 

Key figures

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  • Installed capacity: 433 MW

  • Average Production:  869 GWh/year

  • Number and power of turbines: 4
    (3 x 64 MW + 1 x 241 MW)

  • Group Type: Simple

Dam & reservoir features

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  • Type: Arch

  • Material: concrete

  • Height: 100 m

  • Crest length: 139 m

  • Effective storage: 13 million m³