The Alto Maipo Hydroelectric Power project comprises the design and construction of two run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants arranged in hydraulic sequence located in the high-altitude area of the Maipo River basin, 50 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Santiago, Chile in the municipal district of San José de Maipo.
The project captures the flow from the Colorado river basin in the north and the Volcán and Yeso river valleys in the south. The majority of the works are underground, including powerhouse caverns, headrace and tailrace tunnels, access tunnels, surge and pressure shafts, intake and discharge tunnels, slopes, shafts constructed via raised boring method (RBM), and other water adduction systems. The tunnels of the project are excavated mostly in volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks under high hydrostatic pressure and ground covers reaching 2,000 m (6,500 ft). The two largest structures are the Powerhouse caverns. The Las Lajas Powerhouse cavern is 80 m (260 ft) long with a cross section of 20 m width x 36 m height (65 x 120 ft) – see Figure 2, and the Alfalfal II Powerhouse cavern is around 70 m (230 ft) long with a cross section of 25 m width x 30 m height (80 x 100 ft).
Upon commissioning, the power plants will be capable of generating a combined total output of 531MW of electricity.
Independent Design Verification Engineer:
Gall Zeidler Consultants (GZ) is acting as the Independent Design Verification Engineer, tasked with reviewing and approving project designs, including tunnels (drill & blast, TBM) and caverns, reviewing geological/geotechnical conditions, and a review of the detailed design for the Mechanical, Electrical and System Control Instrumentation, and Communication Systems. As such, GZ has been deeply involved in every aspect of the project from design and construction to operation and maintenance planning.