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Canada’s Snare Falls hydropower plant repaired after turbine failure

The 7.4-MW Snare Falls hydropower plant in Canada’s Northwest Territories tripped off line while generating electricity Feb. 15, according to Northwest Territories Power Corp. (NTPC). The failure caused a full power outage in the city of Yellowknife. But on March 18, the plant resumed generating power after NTPC spent an estimated C$505,000 to repair a damaged bearing in the plant’s Kaplan turbine, which was originally commissioned in 1961.

On March 3, the plant was partially dewatered to do a thorough inspection of the turbine, according to NTPC. That inspection revealed cracks in some of the turbine blades.

This prompted a complete dewatering, which is rarely done during the winter months due to the difficulty that ice build-up adds to the process. However, in this case, it was unavoidable. This process identified an additional bearing in the lower chamber as requiring replacement.

To bring the turbine unit back into service the blades were repaired, both upper and lower bearings were replaced, and the unit was re-aligned and re-watered. While the unit is functioning normally at this time, it is still scheduled for a complete overhaul later this spring when demand for electricity is lower and the need for additional diesel generation is decreased.

Snare Falls is one component of a system that also includes the 8.5-MW Snare Rapids, 4.3-MW Snare Cascades and 5.3-MW Snare Forks projects. The plants are located on the Snare River and provide power to Yellowknife, Behchoko and Dettah.

Information-sharing center studied for waterpower in Ontario

The Ontario Waterpower Association has awarded a contract to complete a feasibility study for the proposed Waterpower Reference Centre.

Both the industry and the province have recognized the potential benefits of retaining and using ecological information to help guide future resource management decisions, OWA says. To this end, OWA proposes to design and develop a central location for environmental reports, supporting data/information and best management practices.

4DM and Senes Consultants received the contract, which calls for them to complete the study to better understand existing systems, holdings and available products.

The project to develop the center is being undertaken through a partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and is intended to leverage the considerable investment being made by the waterpower industry in the collection of data and information related to hydroelectric projects, OWA said.

An estimated $150 million to $200 million is being invested in waterpower development and redevelopment to support environmental assessments and approvals across the province, according to OWA.

Reorganization takes place at Canadian utility BC Hydro

The chief executive officer of BC Hydro, Jessica McDonald, has reorganized the company’s executive team, creating new business units and promoting former Executive Vice President Chris O’Riley to deputy CEO. This is according to reports by multiple Canadian news sources.

O’Riley will take over the new business group, Capital Infrastructure Project Delivery. He also will be responsible for supervising the human resources and corporate legal departments, which previously reported to McDonald. O’Riley also is responsible for dam safety, strategic emergency management, aboriginal relations and environmental risk management.

O’Riley has been with BC Hydro for 20 years and has been executive VP of generation since 2007.

McDonald took over the reins at the provincial Crown corporation in July 2014, after the retirement of President and CEO Charles Reid.

News sources indicate O’Riley’s open position, under which he managed the day-to-day operations of the company’s generating facilities, will be filled. In fact, the Vancouver Sun reported that McDonald indicated this reorganization will offer “five leadership roles that will be open for competition.”

BC Hydro owns 31 hydroelectric plants with total capacity of 10,927 MW. The utility is currently working on a 1,000-MW expansion of its Mica facility on the Columbia River.

BC Hydro did not return calls to verify the above statements, and the website indicates that it has not yet been updated, as it contains the below information with regard to BC Hydro executives:

  • Jessica McDonald, President & CEO
  • Debbie Nagle, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Teresa Conway, President & CEO, Powerex
  • Ray Aldeguer, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Services & General Counsel
  • Chris O’Riley, Executive Vice-President, Generation
  • Greg Reimer, Executive Vice-President, Transmission & Distribution
  • Susan Yurkovich, Executive Vice-President, Site C Clean Energy Project
  • Cheryl Yaremko, Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer
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