Feasibility determination of low head hydroelectric power development at existing sites: Mousam River Project

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5901682· OSTI ID:5901682

The technical and economic feasibility of low head hydroelectric power development at existing sites along the Mousam River in southeastern Maine was studied. The following areas were investigated: determination of available energy; development of restoration concepts; environmental studies; historical and archeological studies; assessment of civil construction requirements; geotechnical and geologic assessment of existing dams; assessment of turbine alternatives; assessment of generator and utility interface alternatives; economic analysis; and restoration concept evaluation and selection. The results of the hydropower evaluation showed that: of the seven sites evaluated, only four can be considered economically feasible for refurbishment at this time; the use of used and/or rebuilt equipment is more economically attractive than new equipment; the cost of equipment at each site was of the same order as the cost of the dam reconstruction; and the cost of fuel prices will be the determining feature of whether the sites should be reconstructed.

• Research Organization: Foster-Miller Associates, Inc., Waltham, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5901682
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/01777-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
130100* -- Hydro Energy-- Resources & Availability
DAMS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
LOW-HEAD HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
MAINE
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH ATLANTIC REGION
POWER
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RETROFITTING
USA