The Deriner Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) is a large-scale structure located 5 km downstream of Artvin province in Türkiye's northeastern Black Sea Region, on the Çoruh River. It was built for energy production and flood protection purposes. Construction of the project began on January 8, 1998, and it was put into service on December 12, 2012. The dam reached full capacity operation in 2013.
Deriner Dam (State Hydraulic Works)
Technical Specifications and Structural Information
The Deriner Dam was constructed as a double-curved concrete arch type. Its height from the foundation is 249 meters, and its height from the thalweg is 207 meters. With this height, the Deriner Dam holds the title of Türkiye's highest, Europe's third highest, and the world's sixth highest dam in its class. Thedam's bodys volume is 3.4 million cubic meters, with a crest elevation of 397.00 meters and a crest length of 720.00 meters.
Examining the hydrological characteristics of the dam, the catchment area is 18,389 km², the annual average flow is 4.84 billion cubic meters, and the amount of water drawn is 4.53 billion cubic meters. The regulation rate is 94%. At normal water level, the lake volume is 1.969 billion cubic meters (1969 hm³) and the lake area is 26.4 km².
The diversion tunnel is located on the right bank, is of horseshoe cross-section type, a single unit, and 11.70 meters in diameter. Its total discharge capacity is 1,804 m³/s, and its length is 937.14 meters.
The spillway system consists of two main parts:
- Overflow, tunneled, and flip bucket spillway: Located on both banks with upstream intake, it has 2 radial gates measuring 6.50 m x 24.00 m. The length of the right bank arm is 459.84 m, and the length of the left bank arm is 472.17 m. The tunnel diameter is 8.00 meters, and the discharge capacity is 2,250 m³/s (1,125 m³/s for each tunnel).
- Orifice spillway: Located on the dam body, it has 8 slide gates measuring 2.80 m x 5.60 m. The discharge capacity of this spillway is 7,000 m³/s.
Deriner Dam (YouTube/State Hydraulic Works)
Energy Production and Contribution to the Economy
Deriner HPP was built as an underground power plant and has 4 vertical-axis Francis-type turbines. The installed capacity of the plant is 669.6 MW (approximately 670 MW). The annual average energy production is 2,117.75 GWh (2 billion 118 million kWh). With this production capacity, Deriner Dam can meet approximately 6% of the hydroelectric energy produced in Türkiye.
From its commissioning date (December 12, 2012) until November 1, 2020, a total of 11 billion 762 million kWh of energy was produced, contributing 7 billion 126 million TL to the national economy. Considering the average annual electricity consumption, the electricity generated from Deriner Dam and HPP can meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 750 thousand people, which is equivalent to the total annual electricity need of a province like Mardin, Trabzon, Eskişehir, or Malatya.
The construction of the Deriner Dam cost approximately 1 billion 400 million US Dollars. Within the scope of the Çoruh Basin Projects, a total of 25.6 billion kilowatt-hours of energy has been produced at the Muratlı, Borçka, Deriner Dams, and Artvin Dam, all built in Artvin.
Environmental and Geological Engineering
The Deriner Dam Project was thoroughly examined through environmental impact assessment studies. The environmental dimensions of the project were evaluated in terms of both positive and negative impacts. Grout curtain injection test studies were carried out to determine and improve the permeability of the dam foundation and slopes. These studies included engineering activities such as investigating the geological and structural properties of the dam foundation rock, pressure water tests, and monitoring permeability changes with test injections.
Deriner Dam has been awarded numerous accolades for its technical features and record-breaking contributions to energy production, and it is considered an important investment and engineering success for Artvin and the Turkish economy.
