HPP Cerro del Águila

Located 270 km from bustling Lima, in the majestic mountains of Huancavelica, surrounded by the imposing nature of the Andes, is the Cerro del Aguila Hydroelectric Project, an engineering feat that surpassed all initial expectations, standing as a symbol of progress and development of the country.

From a height of 88 meters, the gravity dam at HCR rises like a guardian in the current of the Mantaro River, and with its 6 radial gates controls a flow of 7'000 m³/s, while taking care to maintain a balance with nature, thanks to the 6 bottom drains and its flow of 5'000 m³/s, generating with them a sustainable sediment management of the basin.

A total tunnel of 5.7 km of tunnel runs through the subsoil of the mountain thanks to the efforts of the workers, who have faced drilling and blasting to make their way through. With a horseshoe section of 93 m², this tunnel becomes the secret corridor for electricity generation, linking the reservoir to the cavernous power plant, but not before negotiating an 80-meter-long rock trap and a 900-meter swing tunnel.

The heart and soul of the project lies deep in the mountain, in the subway powerhouse, which takes the form of a large cavern. With a length of 86 meters, a height of 46 meters and a width of 18 meters, this site houses three Francis units to provide 510 MW of power, fed by a design flow rate of 210.5 m³/s. But the subway works do not end there, as a 400-meter emergency tunnel (which houses the cable ducts) and a 560-meter access gallery are also part of this creation, lighting the way to the future.

Finally, the 1.9-kilometer-long discharge tunnel, with its useful section of 90 m², becomes the exit gate for the water returning to the river, without generating an environmental impact on the basin. Like a subway river of light and power, the electricity flows with impetus to its final destination, the substation connected to the national transmission grid.

At the foot of the dam, a small 3 MW powerhouse provides additional power, and allows for a constant ecological flow in the river.

The Cerro del Aguila Hydroelectric Project is not only a monumental work of engineering, but a symbol of progress and hope. In the mountains of Huancavelica, where the sky meets the earth, this epic project opened the doors to an enlightened future, where clean and sustainable energy carries with it a message of change and growth. Its grandeur and majesty remind us that when dreams and necessity come together, there are no limits that prevent us from reaching our goals.

The Cerro del Aguila Hydroelectric Project stands as a testament to the greatness of human beings and their ability to create a lasting legacy in harmony with nature.