Rio Grande Hydroelectric Complex, Hydroelectric power station in Córdoba Province, Argentina
The Rio Grande Hydroelectric Complex is a pumped-storage power station in the Calamuchita Valley of Córdoba Province, Argentina. It consists of two dams, Cerro Pelado and Arroyo Corto, and an underground powerhouse carved into Cerro Pelado.
Construction began in the 1970s, and the plant started operating in 1986. Control passed from the state builder to Nucleoeléctrica Argentina and later to the provincial energy company EPEC.
The reservoirs are also used for flood control and to supply water to nearby towns, so they are part of daily life beyond electricity. Local people often refer to the plant simply as Central Cerro Pelado, after the hill that hides it.
The site is in a rural area, so bring your own supplies and check road conditions before setting out. The underground powerhouse is not open to the public, but the reservoirs and dams can be viewed from nearby roads.
The machine hall lies deep inside the mountain, and its size is often compared to that of the cathedral in Córdoba city. Water is pumped back up to the upper reservoir at night so it can be reused during peak hours.
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