skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Feasibility assessment, Lowell Hydroelectric Project

Abstract

The results are presented of a feasibility analysis for hydroelectric generating facilities on the Merrimack River at Lowell, Massachusetts. The projected facility would utilize the existing Pawtucket Dam and a portion of the existing Northern Canal. The project was examined for economic, engineering, and environmental viability, and the results are favorable. The owners intend to proceed to the next step of negotiating a firm power purchase agreement.

Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Raytheon Service Co., Burlington, MA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5817232
Report Number(s):
DOE/ID/01807-1
DOE Contract Number:
EW-78-F-07-1807
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
13 HYDRO ENERGY; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; LOW-HEAD HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS; ECONOMICS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; FEASIBILITY STUDIES; MASSACHUSETTS; HYDROELECTRIC POWER; DAMS; LEGAL ASPECTS; POWER GENERATION; RETROFITTING; TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT; ELECTRIC POWER; ENERGY SOURCES; HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS; NORTH AMERICA; NORTH ATLANTIC REGION; POWER; POWER PLANTS; RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES; USA; 130100* - Hydro Energy- Resources & Availability; 299000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation

Citation Formats

Not Available. Feasibility assessment, Lowell Hydroelectric Project. United States: N. p., 1979. Web. doi:10.2172/5817232.
Not Available. Feasibility assessment, Lowell Hydroelectric Project. United States. doi:10.2172/5817232.
Not Available. Sun . "Feasibility assessment, Lowell Hydroelectric Project". United States. doi:10.2172/5817232. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5817232.
@article{osti_5817232,
title = {Feasibility assessment, Lowell Hydroelectric Project},
author = {Not Available},
abstractNote = {The results are presented of a feasibility analysis for hydroelectric generating facilities on the Merrimack River at Lowell, Massachusetts. The projected facility would utilize the existing Pawtucket Dam and a portion of the existing Northern Canal. The project was examined for economic, engineering, and environmental viability, and the results are favorable. The owners intend to proceed to the next step of negotiating a firm power purchase agreement.},
doi = {10.2172/5817232},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1979},
month = {Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1979}
}

Technical Report:

Save / Share:
  • The feasibility of hydroelectric power development on Lowell Creek near Seward has been investigated at.a reconnaissance level. The study was. conducted because .the physical characteristics of the creek and surrounding terrain initially appeared suitable for hydroelectric power. The creek has a steep gradient (about 400 feet per mile), is fed from a large snowfield, and has two significant drops. One drop is formed by the presence of a dam that was constructed to divert the creek through a mountain and around the town. The second drop of about 65 feet is at the termination of-the diversion tunnel. Three alternative sitesmore » for hydroelectric plants were considered, one each at the two drops and one farther upstream at the site of an old abandoned intake and valve house. Two of the sites were considered for 250-kW plants and one for a 100-kW plant. All were limited to a low head, less than 66 feet. Use of an existing dam and tunnel and an abandoned diversion dam and valve house was considered as part of the project alternatives. None of the three alternatives approaches feasibility at this time. Major influencing factors are the high cost of energy at over 13 cents per kWh, the winter freezeup resulting in plant shutdown from November to April, and a large amount of rock sediment carried by the stream and requiring expensive intake structures to skim off the rocks. The most promising alternative (alternative C), which would have a capacity of 250 kW and would produce about 800,000 kWh per year, would fill less than 5 percent of the city's present energy needs. The plant would cost nearly $1 million and produce energy at about 137 mills per kwh. This alternative is the best of the three from the standpoint of its.lower cost, best access via existing all-weather road, least exposure to avalanche and rockslides, and proximity to existing powerlines.« less
  • The report assesses the feasibility of the proposed Alto Malema hydroelectric Facility, which will be located in Mozambique`s Zambezia Province. The Executive Summary is divided into the following sections: (1) Preamble; (2) Introduction; (3) Previous Studies; (4) Electric Power Sector; (5) Project Description; (6) Construction Cost Estimate and Schedule; (7) Economic and Financial Analysis; (8) Environmental Screening.
  • The results are presented of a feasibility assessment study to determine if hydroelectric generation could be developed economically at the Corps of Engineers' Tuttle Creek Dam, an existing flood control structure on the Big Blue River near Manhattan, Kansas. The studies and investigations included site reconnaissance, system load characteristics, site hydrology, conceptual project arrangements and layouts, power studies, estimates of construction costs, development of capital costs, economic feasibility, development of a design and construction schedule and preliminary environmental review of the proposed Project. The dependable capacity of the Project as delivered into the existing transmission and distribution network is 12,290more » kW and the average annual energy is 56,690 MWh. For the scheduled on-line date of July 1984, the Project is estimated to have a Total Investment Cost of $19,662,000 (equal to $1333/kW installed at that time frame) with an estimated annual cost for the first year of operation of $2,696,000, assuming REA financing at 9.5% interest rate. The Project is considered technically feasible and without any major environmental issues. It shows economic feasibility providing satisfactory financing terms are available. (LCL)« less
  • A feasibility assessment study was conducted to determine if it is economical to reinstall hydroelectric generating units at the existing Jackson Bluff Dam on the Ochlockonee River in Florida. The studies and investigations have included site reconnaissance, system loads, growth rate, site hydrology, conceptual project arrangements and layouts, power output, estimates of construction costs and annual costs, economic analyses, development of a design and construction schedule and a preliminary environmental review of the proposed Project. It was concluded that the Project poses no unusual technical problems and no significant adverse environmental effects are anticipated. It shows sufficient promise of technical,more » economic and financial feasibility, to justify the City entering into the next phase of work, the FERC License Application, as soon as possible. The site can be restored for an investment of $9.9 to $10.4 million to establish 8.8 MW of capacity and produce 24,920 MWh of electrical energy annually, and in 10 years would save over $4 million as compared with current fuel costs for operating an oil-fueled power plant. (LCL)« less
  • The results of a feasibility analysis for hydroelectric generating facilities at the Chicopee Falls Dam in Chicopee, Massachusetts are presented. The project has been examined for economic, engineering, and environmental viability. The projected facility controls a 714 square mile drainage area and would utilize 16 feet of gross head developed by the Chicopee Falls Dam and an additional 10 feet of head at the site of a former dam 580 feet downstream. The plant would generate 9,000,000 kWh of electricity annually with an installed capacity of 1600 kW. Project cost is estimated, based upon a preliminary design effort, to bemore » $4,053,750 at 1978 price levels. This yields a capital cost per kilowatt of $2534. It was assumed that this program would be implemented by the award of a fixed price contract to design, construct and turn over to the buyer on a turnkey basis the hydroelectric facility described herein. The site is typical of many in New England. The dam is soundly constructed and there are no factors to indicate that installation of hydropower at the dam would increase flood risk or cause other changes that would place insurance costs in a special category. The city has placed no value upon property or water rights so that the projected costs reflect only improvements to the site. Environmental impacts of the proposed development have been judged to be minor, and negative impacts seem to be balanced by several favorable effects. The feasibility of the Chicopee project has been measured against difficult criteria. The method used to assign a value to power produced by the hydroelectric project is disadvantageous to the project but is to the advantage of CMLP's customers.« less