Innovation and New Technology

Innovation at Powertech

Recognized worldwide for its expertise in solving complex technical problems, Powertech is helping us become a leader in innovation and the use of new technology. For example, it has developed a commercial suite of leading-edge dynamic security assessment (DSA) software tools to address the growing need for advanced power system analysis capabilities. The capability to conduct comprehensive DSA means that systems can be designed and operated to avoid major system upsets and perhaps even blackouts. The economic benefit of avoiding these types of events is enormous. System operators can also use the software to perform “what if” scenarios in order to operate the system. DSA PowerToolsTM software has been licensed to more than 40 utilities and system operators worldwide as well as more than 20 universities and research institutes.

Powertech is now positioned as a leader in providing high-level technical services to the energy sector as a whole. New technology and innovation in areas such as hydrogen storage and delivery, including testing and certification of tanks, valves and regulators, are now part of Powertech’s offerings.

Powertech has also expanded into the automotive industry, supporting the innovation of alternative energy vehicles, including fuel cell technology. The potential for a hydrogen economy continues to develop, as evidenced by the fact that essentially all of the automakers in the world are working on the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as the replacement for internal combustion engines.

Innovation at BC Hydro

BC Hydro’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Program saw continued success during fiscal 2005. This program explores the hydrogen market and forms key relationships to stimulate the development of a hydrogen economy in B.C. Results included:

• constructing a temporary hydrogen fuelling station in Victoria at BC Transit
• fully commissioning and beginning field tests on a fuel cell-based emergency standby generator at a microwave repeater station at our Edmonds facility
• examining the integrating of hydrogen with renewable power generation in remote non-integrated areas and obtaining support from General Electric
• leasing a Ford fuel cell car and assisting in the development of a hydrogen and fuel cell strategy and implementation plan for the province.

We also developed an innovative tool that will allow for the safe cleaning of energized equipment of up to 500,000 volts using dry ice pellets of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) as a cleaning agent. This tool will minimize the requirement for outages, increasing system availability and reliability.

Working in co-operation with suppliers, we developed a connector that will be a major component of the replacement program for problematic mid-span connection splices in conductors. This innovation will significantly reduce the time required to replace these connections because it allows for elimination of some components of the process that would otherwise be required to replace these splices. Use of this connector also provides a viable option for this work to be performed on energized high-voltage lines thereby increasing system reliability and availability.