Solar PV in Washington

Water's Solar Powered Future

2 MW, Solar Powered Fish-Ladder Water Recycling System

First Step

Fishladders at Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams require 10-35 CFS each for legal operation. This water is lost to generation and amounts to @ 30-120 AF per day of operation. This is the equivalent of @90-350 MWhr of lost energy production.

This proposed project would provide @ 48 AF per day returned to the Wanapum Pool from below the dam.

Energy from the solar PV array could be used directly by the pump or be directed to the grid during peak load periods.The effect of using solar power to pump and store water provides the equivalent of a storage battery for renewable energy systems. A large solar pumping facility at a dam allows efficient load management between the pump drive and the grid, fully utilizing the renewable resource.

PUMP-MOTOR-DRIVE ASSEMBLY

1.8 MW motor driving a 100 CFS pump delivering 200' of head, Motor is fed through an adjustable speed drive for maximumun efficiency.

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY

2.20 MW nameplate rating, connected  directly to the pump load and the grid through transfer switches. The solar electricity can be sold on the grid at peak rates or can pump water to a higher elevation for future energy extraction. Renewable energy sources such as wind or solar do not have peaking capacity. This array would cover about 5 acres.

BENEFITS FOR FISH

By retaining even a small quantity of additional water in particular locations in the river, the system's ability to manage water levels in the Hanford Reach are enhanced.

20 MW , Solar Powered Fish Passage Spill Water Recycling System

STEP TWO

Assuming that a feasibility study had been performed and the results prompted adequate public and private investment to build the  Fish-Ladder Recovery System at Wanapum and that the actual non-economic performance requirements are met, construct a 1000 CFS solar powered fish spill water recovery facility at Priest Rapids Dam.

The 2 MW Wanapum solar PV project would probably be the largest in the USA as of 2006.

The 20 MW Priest Rapids solar PV project would probably be the largest in the world as of 2006.

80 MW of solar PV were installed in 2005 in the USA. 865 MW in Germany. 1650 MW globally.

160 MW of solar PV water recycling could be installed on Snake and Columbia River dams.

This prototype facility could become a model for many run-of-the-river dams with fish-passage problems. It could also help correct a specific fish-ladder flow velocity deficiency problem at Priest Rapids Dam.

PUMP-MOTOR-DRIVE ASSEMBLY

18.0 MW motor driving a 1000 CFS pump delivering 200' head with matched PWM drive

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY

20 MW nameplate grid connected and directly to the pump drive. 20 MW is about 25% of the output of one turbine generator in either powerhouse and could be integrated closely into dam operations

This would be the largest single array in the world, covering 50 acres.

BENEFITS FOR FISH

During certain seasons an additional 1000 CFS is bypassed and spilled to aid fish passage. The 24 hour operation bypasses about 2000 AF per day. This is equivalent to 6000MWhr lost each day.

This proposed system could recycle about 500 AF in a typical six hour daily generation period.

200 MW, Pumped-Storage for Irrigation and Generation

500,000 AF active irrigation storage

>1.5 GigaWatt hour (GWhr) energy storage

THE NEXT BIG STEP

The projects previously mentioned provide only limited additional stored water resource but should improve river conditions for fish and therefore political conditions to support further water withdrawal and storage projects.

The Black Rock Water Storage Initiative holds some promise as a large pumped-storage facility for regional renewable energy resources integrated with critically needed new agricultural irrigation water storage.

Each of these projects is an order of magnitude larger than the previous. The Black Rock Solar PV array would be > 200 MW and cover 500-600 acres of land. It would be capable of delivering about 1200 CFS at 1300' of head. The reservoir would have an active capacity of 500,000 AF and a surface elevation of 1800' ASL.

Black Rock Dam is proposed to be 600' tall and 6200' long.

Black Rock Reservoir will hold 1,730,000 AF when full.

Black Rock Lite proposes a much smaller dam with a total capacity of 800,000 AF. Irrigation water would be drawn from the reservoir as needed.