City of Nelson power projects

                           

                                    City of Nelson Master Water Plan

2006
update

Summer water restrictions as I understand it are due to lack of storage not water.

Nelson's primary water source is identified as a risk to spills, forest fires and slide never mind
age.


 Below is shown a contour of this 7 km long line.
A study showed two potential microhydro power sites.  These would help pay for the project and reduce excess power purchases from Fortis.

Above is a contour drawing of the 7 km long Nelson city primary water intake line

Nelson has this emergency water intake downstream of the prestige storm sewer outfall and boat houses

The Achilles Heel to this is it can only serve water Zone 4,  and it depends on a portable water treatment plant being available, are these identified and reserved?

The city is very fortunate having a gravity water system with 11 water pressure reducing stations.

One of these city PRV stations is microhydro ready.

The above is an example of hydro generation turbines in a water line

Nelson and BC is a waterpower province with many opportunities for clean green reliable power generation.

This looks like a wonderful opportunity for this system. See the YouTube video here.

How many other local possibilities exist for this?



Nakusp put microhydro on their  city water intake for $150,000 it earns them $100 a day.

The last city council visited the Nakusp project.

Kimberley has microhydro power on their city water intake

Lake Country over in the okanagan installed microhydro making them huge income

North Vancouver has  PRV microhydro power

Fort St. John microhydro power 



Hall Street PRV Investment (2011 $)   is estimated at $253,440.

 Power production is estimated at 186,670 kw-hrs /yr.

The BC Hydro Standing Offer Program is currently in abeyance, however, a savings estimate can be made on the basis of $0.08/kw-hr, yielding approximately $15,000 per year.

 Debt repayment on $253,440 over 20 years at 3% per annum is approximately $17,000/yr. The business case for Hall St. PRV conversion is not strong

. If a more accurate estimate of power generation based on actual flow reveals that a greater amount of kw-hrs can be generated the revenue could exceed the financing cost

Selous Creek Diversion   Another identified Nelson power generation possibility

 The Selous Creek Option 1 diversion involves “flow in the existing 400 mm supply main from Selous Creek would be diverted to Cottonwood Creek via approximately 300 m of new pipe>

 The diversion would be located upstream of a throttling valve at the top of Stanley St.”. The design flow is 260 L/s; the net head is 190 m, and the generation capacity is 388 kW.
The projected annual production is 765,080 kW.
The projected annual revenue (expressed as avoided cost) is $32,439/yr.
 The estimated capital cost is $1,299,000.
 Financing $1,299,000 over 20 years at 3%/annum incurs an annual cost of $87,300

The potential lost to this city because of phoney solar garden engineering $1.5M in 25 years.

Its my contention the phoney Nelson Community Solar Garden project and all its publicitiy
suggesting solar works and paysback is responsible for this grant money.  Balfour community buildings are already on the solar grant bandwagon taking public money for solar systems of no value that are paid for by Nelson hydro customers losing income from otherwise selling cleaner greener waterpower.