Improved Efficiency Maximizes Hydropower Generation
Mike Connor, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior
The Bureau of Reclamation is the second largest provider of hydroelectric power in the United States, operating 53 hydroelectric powerplants across the West that produce, on average, 40 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year – enough to serve approximately 3.5 million homes.
Our ability to produce hydropower is tightly linked to the availability of water in the western United States, which has been negatively impacted by drought conditions. While the availability of water for agricultural, municipal and industrial use is curtailed, the potential for hydropower generation has also been reduced, impacting a major renewable energy source in the West.
In an effort to maximize available hydropower generation regardless of hydrologic conditions, Reclamation is working to improve the efficiency of its power facilities through optimization. Optimization is a mathematical tool that helps hydroelectric project operators achieve the most power output for a given amount of water. It provides excellent benefits and a fast return on taxpayer and ratepayer investment.
A computer-based optimization system allows Reclamation powerplants to operate more efficiently, maximizing electricity generated per acre-foot of water. Through optimization, the historical level of power generation could be maintained with less water or increased with the same amount of water. Both result in increased efficiency.
Use of this technology at Hoover Dam on the Arizona-Nevada border and Grand Coulee Dam in Washington state improved efficiency from one to three percent. This may seem low, but this change in efficiency translates to an annual increase of up to 1.23 million megawatt hours – or $30.8 million of additional value to the American taxpayers – once all Reclamation plants are optimized.
Reclamation implemented a program to install optimization systems in every Reclamation hydropower plant and developed a standardized optimization system to meet this goal. This system was recently installed at the Black Canyon Control Center in Idaho. It provides real-time recommendations to operators of Reclamation’s Black Canyon, Palisades, Minidoka and Anderson Ranch powerplants. Glen Canyon Control Center and Elephant Butte Powerplant are scheduled to have the optimization system installed later this year.
To learn more about Reclamation's Power Program visit www.usbr.gov/power.
Last updated: 2/28/14