The Imaichi Dam (今市ダム) is a concrete
gravity dam
A gravity dam is a dam constructed from concrete or stone masonry and designed to hold back water by using only the weight of the material and its resistance against the foundation. Gravity dams are designed so that each section of the dam is ...
on the
Togawa River located west of
Nikkō
is a Cities of Japan, city in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. , the city's population was 80,239, in 36,531 households. The population density was 55 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Nikkō is a popular destination for Japanese and ...
in
Tochigi Prefecture
is a landlocked Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Tochigi Prefecture has a population of 1,897,649 (1 June 2023) and has a geographic area of 6,408 Square kilometre, km2 (2,474 Square mile, sq mi ...
, Japan.
The dam serves as the lower reservoir for the
Imaichi Pumped Storage Power Station, while the
Kuriyama Dam forms the upper.
It is owned by
TEPCO
is a Japanese electric utility holding company servicing Japan's Kantō region, Yamanashi Prefecture, and the eastern portion of Shizuoka Prefecture. This area includes Tokyo. Its headquarters are located in Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and ...
and was constructed between 1979 and 1986.
The reservoir can store of water. Of that storage volume, can be used for power generation.
Imaichi Pumped Storage Power Station
The power plant operates using the
pumped storage
Pumping may refer to:
* The operation of a pump, for moving a liquid from one location to another
**The use of a breast pump A breast pump is a mechanical device that Lactation, lactating women use to milking, extract milk from their breasts. They ...
hydroelectric method. During periods of high electricity demand, water is sent from the upper Kuriyama Reservoir to the power plant which contains 3 x
Francis pump turbines. Water discharged from the power plant then enters the Imaichi Reservoir. When demand is low, the pump-generators reverse mode and pump water from the lower reservoir back up to the upper. The process repeats as needed.
See also
*
List of dams and reservoirs in Japan
References
{{Authority control
Dams completed in 1986
Dams in Tochigi Prefecture
Gravity dams