Tazimina Hydroelectric Project: A Case Study in Building a Small Hydroelectic Project in Alaska

摘要

A water-rich state like Alaska, filled with roaring rivers, glacier-fed lakes, and coastal regions soaked by maritime climates, offers great hydroelectric potential--if considerable obstacles can be overcome. The Tazimina River Hydroelectric Project, an 824-kW run-of-river project recently constructed in southwest Alaska, illustrates the challenges and successes encountered in developing hydroelectric projects in remote Alaska. The Tazimina project faced obstacles throughout development, from the initial permitting phase through design and construction. The facility sits above a salmon-rich stretch of the Tazimina River, ocated on private lands within a national park and preserve in Alaska. The steps involved in acquiring permits for a new project in such a location took four years to complete. The facility's design also posed problems. Complex site conditons required innovative intake structure and udnerground powerhouse design. The project's remote location, cold-weather environment, and short summer season also made construction challenging.