$30.6m for hydro power infrastructure projects

November 4, 2009

The Department of Energy is to provide $30.6 million for seven projects to modernize hydropower generation infrastructure.

The funding, drawn from the Federal economic stimulus budget, will increase the efficiency of the hydropower stations and reduce their environmental impacts, the Department said.

Upgrading US hydropower projects offers new capacity at a low cost, according to government officials

It added that the costs of the extra generation output should be less than 4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on average.

Projects in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, North Carolina and two in Washington, will benefit from upgrades including high-efficiency fish-friendly turbines, improved water intakes and advanced control systems.

The seven projects will increase generation by an estimated 187,000 MWh/year, the equivalent to the electricity demand of more than 12,000 homes.

The extra generation output will mean a saving of 110,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year compared to conventional electricity supplies.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said: “One of the best opportunities we have to increase our supply of clean energy is by bringing our hydropower systems into the 21st Century.

“With this investment, we can create jobs, help our environment and give more renewable power to our economy without building a single new dam,” added Secretary Chu.

Under Secretary Kristina Johnson visited Voith Hydro Inc.’s manufacturing plant in York, Pennsylvania, to announce the funding, which is being provided from Recovery Act money reserved for creating jobs and stimulating the economy.

Final funding allocations are still subject to negotiation, with the projects expected to begin in 2010.

Projects

Three large projects (above 50MW) were among those awarded the Recovery Act funding, along with four smaller projects.

The Alabama Power Company’s project in Mitchell, AL, will receive $6 million to upgrade four units at three hydroelectric plants on the Coosa River. Turbines more than 40 years old will be replaced with high-efficiency systems, offering a 7.3% increase in power output.

Alcoa, Inc. looks set to gain $13 million to replace 90-year-old Francis Turbines at its Tapoco Cheoah project in Robbinsville, NC, with four new high-efficiency systems offering 22MW extra generating capacity and a 23% on annual generation.

The City of Tacoma’s Department of Public Utilities will receive $4.67 million to add two 1.8MW Francis Turbines to its 81MW Cushman No. 2 Dam at Potlatch, WA. This will see a 14% increase in annual generation at the plant.

Work at Potlatch will also include installation of a new upstream fish collection pool to allow native fish to be re-introduced above the dam for the first time since the 1920s.

The smaller projects set to receive the Federal funding include hydropower projects at Boulder, CO, which is to receive $1.18 million for turbine upgrades; at Packwood Lake, WA, where $800,000 will help pay for a new turbine; and, at Little Rock, AR, where $450,000 will go towards upgrading intake maintenance systems.

A further award of $4.56 million will go towards adding a 3MW low flow turbine system at the Abiquiu hydroelectric plant near Los Alamos, NM. This would allow the plant to operate when water releases are below the capacity of the 13.8MW plant’s existing two turbines.