Helms Pumped Storage is a 1,212MW hydro power project. It is located on Kings river/basin in California, the US. The project is currently active. It has been developed in single phase. The project construction commenced in 1977 and subsequently entered into commercial operation in 1984.

Project Type	Total Capacity (MW)	Active Capacity (MW)	Pipeline Capacity (MW)	Project Status	Project Location	Project Developer
Hydropower	1,212	1,212	–	Active	California, the US	Pacific Gas and Electric

Description

The project is developed and owned by Pacific Gas and Electric.

Helms Pumped Storage is a pumped storage project. The gross head and net head of the project are 496.824m and 495.3m respectively. The penstock length is 685.19m. The penstock diameter is 9.144m. The project generated 70 GWh of electricity. The project cost is $900m.

Development Status

The project construction commenced in 1977 and subsequently entered into commercial operation in 1984.

Contractors Involved

Hitachi Mitsubishi Hydro was selected as the turbine supplier for the hydro power project. The company provided 3 units of francis turbines, each with 404MW nameplate capacity.

Voith Hydro Holding supplied 3 electric generators for the project. The generator capacity is 390 MVA.

About Pacific Gas and Electric

Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PGEC), a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, is an investor-owned energy utility. It generates electricity; and provides electric transmission and distribution services and natural gas transportation services. The company owns and operates power generation assets; and sources energy from qualifying facilities, and other third-party purchase agreements. PGEC provides natural gas transportation services to core customers including small commercial and residential customers, and to non-core customers: industrial, large commercial and natural gas-fired electric generation facilities. It procures natural gas from the basins in western North America, Rocky Mountains, and southwestern US. PGEC is headquartered in San Francisco, California, the US.

Methodology

All power projects included in this report are drawn from GlobalData’s Power Intelligence Center. The information regarding the project parameters is sourced through secondary information sources such as electric utilities, equipment manufacturers, developers, project proponent’s – news, deals and financial reporting, regulatory body, associations, government planning reports and publications. Wherever needed the information is further validated through primary from various stakeholders across the power value chain and professionals from leading players within the power sector.