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spillway gates is needed because a Spillway Radial Gate Evaluation Design Document Report in 2016 revealed the 10 spillway tainter gates are subject to overstress due to trunnion friction issues. In addition, the gates and lifting equipment have been in operation since the dam was completed for full beneficial use in 1952. The scope of this contract includes fabrication of 10 new spillway tainter gates; removal of existing gates and lifting machinery equipment required to operate the gates; and installation of the new gates and lifting machinery equipment. Capt. Joseph R. Cotton, Nashville District
project manager, said the contractor will systematically replace each gate. The contractor is limited to three inoperable gates at any period of time, always leaving seven operable gates. As an additional risk reduction measure, only one gate bay will be open at any given time during construction. Replacement of gates will only occur between June and November each year, which is considered the dry season, targeting lower peak summer lake elevations. This replacement project will ensure the authorized flood-risk-reduction capabilities of this project will be realized for many years to come. During construction, “the key takeaway is that public safety is our top priority,” Cotton said. “Corps of Engineers’ water managers will maintain lake levels within current parameters agreed upon with the Southeastern Power Administration and the public will not experience significant drawdowns of the lake elevation. The most distinguishable change to reservoir levels during the construction period, may be a lower peak summer pool from 723 feet to closer to 720 feet. This adjustment would lower project risk during construction while still falling within current operating targets.” The contractor will have to modify the bridge substructure to accommodate replacement of the 10 spillway tainter gates, which are 37ft high and 50ft wide, and to access lifting machinery equipment. This includes wire rope and drum setup, and replacement of high and low-speed gear boxes, 10 horsepower electric motor, bull and pinion gears, and the machinery base on each gate pier. The replacement of the spillway tainter gates and lifting machinery equipment will not affect the operation of the dam’s six hydroelectric generating units, which have an estimated annual energy output of 800,000,000 kWh of hydropower. The project is fully funded by the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022.
US
FirstLight to team battery storage with hydropower
FirstLight Power has announced plans to retire its fossil fuel power generation facility
in Preston and replace it with a large capacity 17MW battery energy storage system, to be located at the same site as its Tunnel Hydro facility, highlighting the opportunity to pair batteries with hydropower to supply renewable energy to Connecticut communities when it is most needed. In addition, to support the transition to a clean energy economy, FirstLight and its development partner, New Leaf Energy, announced seed funding to bolster Operation Fuel’s critical efforts to provide training to local workers as they join the state’s growing energy efficiency and renewable energy workforce. “The retirement of our Tunnel Jet facility – along with our support of Operation Fuel’s workforce training program – underscore FirstLight’s commitment to advancing the equitable decarbonization of the region’s electrical grid while ensuring that local workers have the necessary training to join Connecticut’s growing clean energy economy,” said Alicia Barton, President and CEO of FirstLight. “We are excited to be working with New Leaf Energy to develop a new emissions-free battery energy storage system that will deliver clean, safe, and reliable electricity to meet Connecticut’s growing clean energy needs.
“In addition, we applaud Operation Fuel for their vision to establish an equity-centered workforce training program that will provide an opportunity for all Connecticut residents to tap into the green jobs market and build the workforce necessary to achieve a carbon-free future.”
As the only year-round emergency energy assistance program in Connecticut, Operation Fuel partners with 58 organizations in the state, including nearly all the Community Action Agencies that operate the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Collectively, FirstLight and New Leaf Energy will donate $60,000 in initial seed funding to advance Operation Fuel’s vision to create a robust training program to build the clean energy workforce of the future that will play a critical role in supporting the clean energy transition in Connecticut and beyond.
“Operation Fuel is extremely grateful to FirstLight and New Leaf Energy for this generous grant that will be used to provide energy efficiency training to our staff at Operation Fuel and assist in the support of an emergency energy assistance worker at our partner fuel bank, Thames Valley Council for Community Action,” said Brenda Watson, Executive Director of Operation Fuel. “We appreciate this opportunity to expand Operation Fuel’s capabilities to become part of Connecticut’s growing energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts. This grant will also allow members of our team to become home auditors and to understand building science principles.”
8 | November 2022 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
Immediately following the retirement and decommissioning of the Tunnel Jet peaking facility in 2023, FirstLight will work with New Leaf Energy to design, manage, and procure the new 17MW battery energy storage system. Construction will begin following procurement, and potentially as soon as the interconnection and permits are secured for the project – with a target of late 2024 or early 2025. “New Leaf Energy is excited to advance this important project at FirstLight’s Tunnel Jet facility, part of an innovative collaboration that will help create hybrid renewables solutions across New England by combining solar and energy storage resources with existing generation,” said Dan Berwick, CEO of New Leaf Energy. “In addition to our work to decarbonize the
region’s power generation, we are pleased to partner with FirstLight to support Operation Fuel’s important workforce training efforts.”
Australia Aqura delivers wireless connectivity for Sunwater Technology and telecommunications infrastructure specialist Aqura has unveiled a wireless network design at Burdekin Falls Dam in North Queensland, Australia.. Burdekin Falls Dam supplies water for irrigation, urban and industrial purposes across northern Queensland. With significant maintenance programs in place to ensure safe and efficient operations, Aqura was enlisted by dam owner and operator, Sunwater to solve network inconsistency issues throughout the dam, in addition to enabling video and voice call access within all internal working areas. Sunwater General Manager of ICT Operations, Rohan Dwyer said, “With extensive digital tools used for collaboration across our operations, one of our goals is to equip our field teams with the level of connectivity they would expect in a corporate office, so they can utilise our safety systems, maintenance applications and collaboration tools regardless of location. “We set Aqura a challenging task, with our brief encompassing delivery of wireless connectivity across long, curved galleries and down multi-level stairwells. Given the complexities, we are extremely pleased with the result and the final network has delivered well above our specifications.” Aqura’s Radio Frequency engineers
undertook a detailed study and review of the engineering plans to architect an Industrial Wi-Fi 6 enabled network, which now provides seamless connectivity as a user moves through various sections of the dam. The new network ensures that engineers
regularly inspecting the dam remain in continued contact with external teams when conducting maintenance or inspecting the many internal galleries criss-crossing the dam wall.
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