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

• Main Author: Not Available
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: 13 HYDRO ENERGY; LOW-HEAD HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS; ECONOMICS; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; FEASIBILITY STUDIES; MAINE; HYDROELECTRIC POWER; DAMS; POWER GENERATION; RETROFITTING; ELECTRIC POWER; ENERGY SOURCES; HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS; NORTH AMERICA; NORTH ATLANTIC REGION; POWER; POWER PLANTS; RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES; USA; Low Head; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5901682; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5901682; https://doi.org/10.2172/5901682

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.