This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
The Deriner Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (HES) is a large-scale structure located 5 km downstream from the city of Artvin in northeastern Türkiye, within the Black Sea Region, on the Çoruh River. It was constructed for energy production and flood control purposes. Construction of the project began on January 8, 1998, and it was commissioned on December 12, 2012. The dam reached full operational capacity in 2013.
Deriner Dam (State Hydraulic Works)
The Deriner Dam is constructed as a double-curvature concrete arch dam. Its height from the foundation is 249 metres and from the riverbed is 207 metres. With this height, the Deriner Dam holds the titles of the tallest dam in Türkiye in its class, the third tallest in Europe, and the sixth tallest in the world. The volume of the dam body is 3.4 million cubic metres, with a crest elevation of 397.00 metres and a crest length of 720.00 metres.
When examining the hydrological characteristics of the dam, the catchment area is 18,389 km², the average annual flow is 4.84 billion cubic metres, and the water withdrawal volume is 4.53 billion cubic metres. The regulation ratio is 94%. At normal water level, the reservoir volume is 1.969 billion cubic metres (1,969 hm³) and the reservoir surface area is 26.4 km².
The diversion tunnel is located on the right bank, has a horseshoe cross-section, is single in number, and has a diameter of 11.70 metres. The total discharge capacity is 1,804 m³/s and its length is 937.14 metres.
The spillway system consists of two main components:
Deriner Dam (YouTube/State Hydraulic Works)
The Deriner HES is constructed as an underground power plant and features four vertical-axis Francis turbines. The installed capacity of the plant is 669.6 MW (approximately 670 MW). The average annual energy production is 2,117.75 GWh (2 billion 118 million kWh). With this production capacity, the Deriner Dam meets approximately 6% of Türkiye’s total hydroelectric energy output.
From its commissioning date (December 12, 2012) to November 1, 2020, a total of 11.762 billion kWh of energy was generated, contributing 7.126 billion Turkish Lira to the national economy. Considering the average annual electricity consumption, the electricity produced by the Deriner Dam and HES can meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 750,000 people, equivalent to the total annual electricity demand of a province such as Mardin, Trabzon, Eskişehir, or Malatya.
The construction of the Deriner Dam cost approximately 1.4 billion US dollars. Under the Çoruh Basin Projects, the Muratlı, Borçka, and Deriner Dams in Artvin, along with the Artvin Dam, have collectively generated 25.6 billion kilowatt-hours of energy.
The Deriner Dam Project was thoroughly analyzed through environmental impact assessments. The project’s environmental dimensions were evaluated in terms of both positive and negative effects. Curtain grouting tests were conducted to determine and improve the permeability of the dam foundation and slopes. These engineering activities included investigations into the geological and structural characteristics of the dam foundation rock, pressure water tests, and monitoring of permeability changes through injection tests.
The Deriner Dam has been recognized with numerous awards for its technical features and record-breaking contribution to energy production, and is regarded as a significant investment and a major engineering achievement for Artvin and the Turkish economy.
Technical Specifications and Structural Information
Energy Production and Economic Contribution
Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering