Azad Dam

Azad Dam (Persian: سد آزاد) is an embankment dam on the Gura River, 40 km (25 mi) west of Sanandaj in Kordestan province, Iran. It is situated in Kurdistan Province and its construction is part of a water management plan for Kurdistan Province.[4] It has an installed electricity generating capacity of 10 MW (13,000 hp) and future pumped storage power plant with a regenerating capacity of 500 MW (670,000 hp).

Azad Dam
Location of Azad Dam in Iran
Country	Iran
Location	Sanandaj
Coordinates	35°20′04″N 46°32′56″E
Opening date	2014
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Gura River
Height	115 m (377 ft)[1]
Length	595 m (1,952 ft)
Width (crest)	15 m (49 ft)
Dam volume	8,500,000 m3 (11,117,580 cu yd)
Reservoir
Total capacity	260,000,000 m3 (210,000 acre⋅ft)
Power Station
Commission date	2014
Turbines	3 x 3.3 MW (4,400 hp) Francis-type, 3 x 166.3 MW (223,000 hp) reversible Francis
Installed capacity	Conventional max. planned: 10 MW (13,000 hp)[2] Pumped storage max. planned: 500 MW[3]
Annual generation	95 GWh (340 TJ)

The pumped storage power plant is to be connected to the dam via a 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) tunnel of which 110 metres (360 ft) was built by June 2010. The dam with a length of 595 metres (1,952 ft) and a height of 115 metres (377 ft), has a maximum storage capacity of 260,000,000 m³ (210,000 acre⋅ft) of water. A 175 kilometres (109 mi) canal connecting the dam with towns of Qarveh and Dehlegan will annually supply over 0.25 cubic kilometres (200,000 acre⋅ft) of water for agricultural purposes to these towns. As the water table of these towns have gone down by over 18 metres (59 ft) due to the excessive use of underground water for crop cultivation, the construction of this dam will help to conserve the underground water sources of the area. One village had to be relocated due to construction of the dam and another new village has been built near the body of the dam. It is estimated that Azad dam will yearly produce approximately 95 GWh of electricity. The dam was operational in 2014.[5][6]