Renewable Energy Technology Assessments - Kauai Island Utility ...

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Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative Renewable Energy Technology Assessments 8.0 Hydro 8.7 Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology 8.7.1 Fit to KIUC Needs Like wind and solar, hydro is a gift from the earth. The fuel is “free”. The disadvantage is that the earth can be fickle and power production is dependent on the consistency of weather from season to season and year to year. Hydro projects with the exception of pumped storage using sea water, are susceptible to drought. This was evident to Kauai hydropower producers during the most recent drought from 2000 to 2002. A total of six years of drought have been experienced on Kauai in the last 100 years. 99 For this reason the variability in hydropower output is large, even compared with other renewable resources. As an as-available resource, hydro matches the current energy priorities of KIUC, that is, energy and not capacity. The hydro projects identified in this report are all relatively small and could be easily integrated into the KIUC energy mix. The Upper Lihue upgrade project is an ideal project in terms of compatibility with KIUC needs. As it is an existing site, the necessary infrastructure (roads, T&D) is already in place to accommodate the increased generation. Further, KIUC already owns the plant, and the new turbine installation would be relatively easy and quick. 8.7.2 Environmental Impact Hydropower’s impacts on the environment and, correspondingly, its ability to be cost-effective and licensable are a function of the technology used. In general, project types in order of decreasing difficulty due to cost, environmental and permitting constraints are: • Storage (new), including pumped • Run-of-river or (trans-basin) diversion • Run-of-ditch or storage (existing) • Plant enlargement • Equipment upgrade (new or refurbished turbine/generator) Storage hydro resulting in the damming of rivers can result in significant environmental impacts including interference with fish migration and flooding of sensitive archeological, agricultural, natural or developable lands. Off-stream storage and run-of-river projects mitigate some of these impacts of flooding. On the positive 99 State of Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management, http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/cwrm/drought/history.htm 21 March 2005 8-22 Black & Veatch
Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative Renewable Energy Technology Assessments 8.0 Hydro side, storage can provide both valuable flood control as well as recreation areas. Nevertheless, the sources reviewed make it clear that new storage projects are unlikely due to environmental impacts. Hydropower projects which utilize existing storage have the advantage of these impacts already considered in the island’s ecology. This is also true for run-of-ditch projects where historical diversions are already captured for power production. Least obtrusive of all are upgrades to existing facilities, either by enlarging the plant’s capacity by adding units or simply updating or upgrading equipment to increase flexibility and efficiency. The latter are least subject to environmental concerns since work is completed within existing structures. These projects are sometimes referred to as incremental hydro because they do not alter stream flows. Unlike wind and solar energy, hydropower does “consume” a competitively pursued agricultural and scenic resource: water. Nevertheless, agriculture, scenic streams and waterfalls can be maintained in part by providing minimum instream flows as laid out in the Hawaii’s State Water Code legislated first in 1987. The Code aims at protecting the natural, recreational, scenic, navigation, water quality, irrigation and hydropower resources for waters of the State. 100 According to State Representative Mina Morita, to date standards have not yet been set for individual streams in Hawaii. 101 This adds to the uncertainty of calculating benefits of hydropower projects which rely on these base flows for both revenue and reliability. Permits Unlike many other renewable energy systems, hydropower often impacts a larger area and is closely tied to the use of larger surface waters which compete with other uses. This typically translates to a larger number of permits. Permits which may not apply to other energy sources, but that will or may be required for new hydropower projects on Kauai are: • Corps 404 Permit, involves Section 7 Consultation with U.S. Fish & Wildlife and other federal agencies • State Board of Land and Natural Resources, Stream Channel Alteration, Stream Diversion, and Conservation District Use Permits Hydropower projects that are upgraded will generally require a smaller number of permits. 100 State Water Code, Section 174C-3. 101 Personal telephone conversation with Representative Mina Morita, November 16, 2004. 21 March 2005 8-23 Black & Veatch
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