Project Overview

Tunnel: The proposed design for the Dead Sea Power Project (DSPP) is for a below sea level bored tunnel, smooth bore concrete segment lined to produce an inside diameter of at least ten meters, constructed on a one in one thousand grade, to supply a maximum flow rate potential of approximately 400 cubic meters per second. This translates to a possible flow rate of twelve billion cubic meters per year. However, design flow rate will be about five billion cubic meters per year, with fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred megawatts hydroelectric capacity, depending on the economics of the available energy market. Utilizing a head pond reservoir to store water at higher elevation for peaking power allows flexibility in operation. The economic balance of energy sales to Israel, Jordan, and the PA will determine the actual flow rate into the Dead Sea.

Three TBMs: At a point 7.4 kilometers south of Modi'in, the second tunnel boring machine will bore down to tunnel level, and bore east toward the Dead Sea. The first machine starting from the inlet will join the tunnel at this point, and exit. A third TBM will first bore the 13 meter diameter 4.2 kilometer long penstock tunnel from the Hydropower Plant to the transition structure in Lake Shalom. From there the same machine will continue with a 10 meter inside diameter tunnel until meeting TBM 2 somewhere near Jerusalem, more than 800 meters below the surface.

Gravity Flow: Using gravity flow is the most energy efficient design for the project. It saves about 20% in construction and operation costs by eliminating an intake pumping facility, and by eliminating the increased hydropower turbine and generator capacity that would be necessary to recover energy from a pumped inlet design. The project should be designed for maximum energy efficiency, as the value of clean energy is increasing.

Sea Inlet at Palmahim: A special feature of the proposed sea inlet site is exposed bedrock at sea level. This will enable the construction of a tunnel entrance transition in solid rock, with excavated stone used to build the sea walls to protect the entrance channel. Because the solid rock is just above sea level, a very minimum of excavation will be required, and the material from the short channel and inlet structure will be sufficient for building the jetty sea walls.

Reservoir: Construction of a storage reservoir at the tunnel exit will enable the operation of a 1500 to 2500 megawatt peaking power hydroelectric plant. Running the plant about eight hours daily, the level of the Dead Sea could be raised to the 400 meters below sea level elevation in about seven years after the project begins operation. After the Dead Sea is filled to the desired elevation, continuous operation will be enabled by the increased installed desalination capacity, by increased removal of Dead Sea water for the potash mining operation, by pumping into reservoirs for marine fish production, and by evaporation from the surface of the Dead Sea.

Tunnel Transition: Exit of the tunnel will be inside the storage reservoir, with a structure that will permit flow from the tunnel to the reservoir, flow from the tunnel direct to the hydro plant, or flow from both the reservoir and tunnel to the hydro plant. The proposed reservoir site is on the south branch of the Wadi Kumran on the site outlined by the elevation lines from 30 to 80 meters below sea level.

Reservoir to Dead Sea: The penstock (water carrier) from the tunnel transition to the hydro plant can be constructed inside a 13 meter inside diameter tunnel, with the water carrier designed to withstand the increasing pressure as the elevation drops to the Dead Sea.

Earthquake Resistant Efficiency: The hydroelectric plant will require earthquake resistant construction. The turbines should be high efficiency, to achieve 90% energy efficiency. The turbines will need to be located below the expected level of the Dead Sea at the time of beginning operation of the facility (425 meters below sea level), and the draft tubes from the turbines to the Dead Sea will need to be designed to accommodate an increase in the level of the Dead Sea to 400 meters below sea level.

Laminar Flow Into Dead Sea: Outflow of Med seawater from the turbines would be released in such a way as to accomplish laminar flow at very low velocities to prevent mixing with the Dead Sea water. This can be accomplished by building a sea wall barrier of large angular stones parallel to the shore at the location of the hydro plant. This wall should connect with the shoreline of the Dead Sea south of the hydro plant, and would extend north and get farther from the shore as it extends into the shallow area at the north end of the Dead Sea. The water would be released at low velocities by a combination of flow through the sea wall, and by flow around the north end of the Dead Sea in shallow water. This sea wall can be constructed in stages, adding elevation as the level of the Dead Sea increases, until a stable layer of Med Sea water on top of the Dead Sea is established.

Desalination Enabler: Jordan would have access to direct flow from the Med Sea at their boundary on the north end of the Dead Sea. This would ensure their access to quality feed water for desalination. Desalination plans can be worked out by agreement between the involved nations.

Peace Valley: This plan is offered as an aid to accomplish the goals of the Peace Valley Economic Corridor proposed by Shimon Peres and approved by the governments of Israel and Jordan.

DSPP FAQ

Dead Sea Power Project Overview

Midpoint Opening South Of Modi'in

Typical Tunnel Inlet Site At Palmahim

Storage Reservoir At South Branch Of Wadi Qumeran

Typical Site For Hydropower Plant South Of Qumeran

Typical Large Stone Sea Wall Or Jetty

Offered as an Alternative to the Red-Dead Conveyance Project:

Project Overview