| Steenbras Power Station | |
|---|---|
 Steenbras Upper Dam (l) and the lower reservoir (r) | |
  Map of South Africa showing the location of Steenbras Power Station  Steenbras Power Station (Western Cape)  Steenbras Power Station (South Africa) | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Location | City of Cape Town, Western Cape |
| Coordinates | 34°09′08″S 18°53′43″E / 34.15222°S 18.89528°E |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1979 |
| Owner(s) | City of Cape Town |
| Operator(s) | City of Cape Town |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Steenbras River |
| Hydraulic head | 275 metres (902 ft) |
| Turbines | 4 x 45 MW |
| Installed capacity | 180 megawatts (240,000 hp) |
| Annual generation | ~250 GWh |
The Steenbras Power Station, also Steenbras Hydro Pump Station, is a 180 MW pumped-storage hydroelectric power station commissioned in 1979 in South Africa. The power station sits between the Steenbras Upper Dam and a small lower reservoir on the mountainside below.[1] It acts as an energy storage system, by storing water in the upper reservoir during off-peak hours and releasing that water to generate electricity during peak hours. The City of Cape Town uses the power station for load balancing and to mitigate against loadshedding caused by the South African energy crisis.[2] This power station is reported to be the first pumped-storage hydroelectric power station to be built on the African continent.[3]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
6Rwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Victoria O'Regan and Onke Ngcuka (30 June 2022). "How the City of Cape Town managed to avoid Stage 6 load shedding thanks to hydroelectric scheme". Daily Maverick. Johannesburg, South Africa. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ CCH South Africa (3 May 2019). "Steenbras Plant Ready To Provide Alternative Energy". Cape Costal Homes/City Country Homes South Africa (CCH South Africa). Cape Town, South Arica. Retrieved 1 July 2022.