
Nillambe Power Station
The Nilambe Dam is a small hydroelectric dam build across the Nilambe River, measuring approximately 70 m (230 ft) in length. Water from the Nilambe Dam is transferred to the 3.2-megawatt Nilambe Power Station through a penstock measuring approximately 2.8 km (1.7 mi). The Power Station consists of two 1.6 MW generating units, which were commissioned in July 1988.
- Installed capacity 70 MW X 3
- Expected annual average energy 700 GWh
- Commissioned in 1984
- Main contractors
- Civil – Costain
- Electromechanical – GEC Large Machines
- Hydro mechanical – Boving
- Located 40 km south-east of Kandy
- Reservoir
- Catchment area : 1891 km2
- Usable water volume : 688 MCM
- Maximum level : 438 m above MSL
- Minimum level : 370 m above MSL
- Headrace
- Circular concrete lined
- 6.2 m diameter
- 5800 m length
- Penstock
- Steel circular, 3 m diameter, 178 m length, With surge tank
- Tailrace
- Length : VVV m ; Maximum level : 240 m above MSL; Minimum level : 230 m above MSL
- Generator (ASEA)
- Conventional vertical
- 70125 kVA, 0.85 PF, 12.5 kV, 3810 A
- 50 Hz, 18 poles, 333 ⅓ rev/min
- Exciter : 220 V, 1130 A
- Turbine (KAMEWA)
- Vertical Francis
- Output : 72 MW @ 190 m effective head (Rated), 83 MW @ 208 m effective head (Maximum)
- Rated discharge : 35 m3/sec
- 333 ⅓ rev/min





