Pingston Hydro Plant

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Apart from size, a major difference between green small hydroelectric facilities and their large hydro counterparts is that many small facilities are run-of-river. This means there is no dam to store water, although a low weir is sometimes used to create a small "headpond." From there, water travels through a pipe (the penstock) to the generating facility. The higher the head — the drop between the headpond and the turbines — the better the generating potential.

The Pingston run-of-river small hydro plant, located south of Revelstoke, is a good example. Designed, constructed and co-owned by Canadian Hydro Developers Inc. and Brascan Power, it utilizes water from Pingston Creek, a tributary of the Columbia River, and began generating electricity in spring of 2003.

"We installed a weir to create a small headpond, which diverts water into the penstock," explains John Keating, chief executive officer of Canadian Hydro Power. "The penstock travels through a four-kilometre tunnel that was carefully bored through the mountain to the generating facility. This created a head of 590 metres — nearly 2,000 feet — the third highest for a run-of-river facility in Canada." BC Hydro is purchasing approximately 198 GWh of electricity per year from this project.

The developers have also worked to enhance fish habitat in Pingston Creek. "Pingston contains no known native fish species," says Keating. "However, rainbow trout were introduced during the '70s. The headpond provides a new over-wintering habitat for these fish. As well, we've enhanced rearing habitat both upstream and in the headpond and constructed a fish spawning channel downstream.

"This project powerfully demonstrates that business can effectively balance the interests of investors with the needs of the environment."